Kieran McKenna praised Fulham ahead of Ipswich Town’s trip to Craven Cottage this weekend, describing it as a ‘great challenge’ for his side.

The Blues come into the game off the back of a 2-0 win against Chelsea, but will face a side that have lost just one of their last 11 sides, winning at Stamford Bridge and taking points off Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Aston Villa and Wolves are the only sides to win at Fulham so far this season, which sees Marco Silva’s side sitting eighth at the midway point in the campaign and eyeing a place in Europe.

Asked what has impressed him about Fulham this season, McKenna said: “I don’t think it’s necessarily one thing, which is probably a compliment for what he [Silva] has done.

“They’ve done a lot of things well, they built the squad well from when they were in the Championship going into the Premier League the first time around. They had one season where they got relegated but kept a good bit of the group together.

Kieran McKenna hasn't been surprised by the Cottagers' run of form under Marco Silva (Image: PA)

“Some of that group that came back up to the Premier League is still together now. I think that always puts you in a good spot.

“They’ve added to the squad well in each transfer window and added good players. Marco has done an excellent job in terms of coaching the team. They’re very, very well-organised, well-structured with and without the ball, very good on set plays.

“They’ve got a clear plan and a clear organisation in every phase of the game, and in every game against each opponent. They’re a really well-rounded, well-organised side who understandably having an excellent season.

“It’s a great challenge for us to go against.”

McKenna is set to be without one of his attackers on Sunday afternoon, with Conor Chaplin set for a spell on the sidelines after injuring his knee.

“He’s going to be out for a couple of weeks,” the manager revealed. “He’s picked up a knock in his knee, so it’ll rule him out for a couple of weeks. We’re still assessing it exactly.

Conor Chaplin will miss the trip to Craven Cottage through injury (Image: PA)

“We have a few little issues after the Chelsea game, to be honest, that we’re still assessing going into this game.

“We’ll see over the next 24 hours.”

George Hirst and Axel Tuanzebe are longer-term absentees who are still a couple of steps away from being available. As a result, they won’t feature against Fulham, but McKenna is hopeful that they are close to returning to action.

“It’s still at least another couple of week,” he admitted. “George is in the really early stages of being out on the grass with the fitness coaches.

“Both are still at least another couple of weeks away.”