Ex-Man United keeper Lee Grant has overseen goal stats that are the best in the country

The Tractor Boys sealed promotion back to the Championship on Saturday as they recorded their second 6-0 win in four games, beating Exeter City at a packed out Portman Road.

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Those six goals took Ipswich's league goal tally for the season up to a whopping 99, 20 more than top of the table Plymouth Argyle, with one game to go.

As a result, the Suffolk outfit have scored more than any team in England's top four leagues - and it turns out ex-Man United goalkeeper Lee Grant is the mastermind behind the firepower.

Grant played just two games for Man United, retiring at the end of last season before quickly being appointed into former Red Devils assistant Kieran McKenna's backroom staff.

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But rather than being hired as a goalkeeping coach, Grant was brought in as first team coach.

The 40-year-old's experience as a keeper is clearly helping him teach Ipswich's attackers how to conquer League One shot stoppers, given they've edged Premier League big guns Man City and Arsenal's goal tallies of 89 and 78 respectively this season.

Ipswich's success in front of goal has been present the entire campaign - thanks in part to top scorer Conor Chaplin who has netted 29 goals this season and 26 in League One, the best return of any player in the league.

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Ipswich did have their fears automatic promotion was slipping away, with Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday putting up a good fight in the race to grasp a spot in the top two.

But the Tractor Boys pounced on Wednesday's recent dip in form, conceding just two goals, recording two 6-0 wins and most notably scoring an incredible 27 times in eight games in April.

Speaking about his unconventional role and getting the League One side to be England's top scorers, Grant told the Premier League's website: "On the outside it probably looks a bit of a strange one for a keeper to be coaching strikers, but it certainly doesn't feel like that for me and I hope it doesn't for the players.

"I spent a long time working on how to stop the ball going into the net which gave me insights I can pass on to the forwards to help them combat keepers' mindsets.

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"I'd like to see more and more goalkeepers realising they've got the potential to go on and do things outside of the realm they exist in. I believe we have plenty to offer as outfield coaches.

"A lot of goalkeepers have that leadership gene where they love to coach, manage, drive and really push people on. I've always enjoyed that sort of role and for a long while I've been interested in management.

"I set out with the goal of being a manager some years ago, so being here at Ipswich is a massively positive step on that journey. When I'll be ready for it I don't know, but right now I feel I'm on the right trajectory working under a massively talented and highly regarded young coach who blows my mind on a daily basis."

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That 'young coach' Grant referred to is McKenna, the current Ipswich boss, whom he knew from his days at Carrington.

Despite never having a gig as a no.1, McKenna - who spent five years at Old Trafford - was brought in in December 2021 and quickly used his experience gained under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the Town.

Ipswich won seven of his first 10 games in charge, keeping seven clean sheets. They also went 11 matches unbeaten through February and March, setting a new club record as they surpassed the previous 547 minutes not conceding a goal.

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Despite finishing in 11th in his first season, McKenna was clearly building something at Portman Road, and his first five months in charge were vital in their bid for promotion this year.

For a team that once played in the UEFA Cup and have been out of the Premier League since 2002, a duo who have both been entrenched in a top flight set up have been the perfect remedy for Ipswich in their quest to get back to the big time.

Much like Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough, Man United's loss is the EFL's gain.