Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna said the decision to loan Sammie Szmodics to promotion rivals Derby County was not based on performance but taken in the interests of "dressing room culture".
The Republic of Ireland international was sent on loan to Derby County on the final day of the January transfer window in a deal which is to last until the end of the season.
Szmodics, who was sidelined for two months after sustaining an ankle injury in October, has scored just once for Ipswich in the current campaign.
Quizzed on the move, McKenna said he wasn't able to give supporters "the full picture" but said the transfer was in the best interests of "our group dynamic."
"We'll see what the summer brings," McKenna said, when asked Szmodics would return once the loan deal concludes.
"It's clear from a football perspective where Sammie's at and how he's done. He had a really positive first half of the season with us in the Premier League, scored some big goals and was on four goals by Christmas. He showed his strengths and we really missed him in the second half of the season.
"He had two big injuries in the calendar year of 2025, both with complicated recoveries that have held him back a little bit. So there's obvious football things there.
"But in the end it wasn't a football decision, it wasn't related to his football performance. It was a decision that was made in the best interests of our group dynamic, of our dressing room culture, of the values of our dressing room and of our team.
"In those respects the decision was made that it was best that Sammie wouldn't be with us for the rest of the season.
"Of course there was a possibility of that being on a permanent transfer but when there wasn't a suitable offer it was still considered that it was the best for him not to be here this season. That's all I'm going to say on it really.
"It's difficult for supporters when you can't always give them the full picture. He's gone on loan to a team that's going well and I understand the perception of that. But in the end it's those of us in the top end of the club and my responsibility to do what I think is right for the football club. I've done that since I've been here and I'll continue to do that and that was the basis of this decision."
Szmodics, who has 11 international caps to date, last featured for Ireland in the 2-2 home draw against Hungary in the World Cup qualification opener last September.
In departing for Pride Park, he links up with his former manager at Ewood Park, John Eustace, under whom he was the Championship's leading scorer in 2023-24. Derby are currently seventh in the table, six points and three places behind Ipswich.
