Boss Roy Keane says he had hoped that both Connor Wickham and Gareth McAuley would play in Sunday’s East Anglian derby at Norwich until the pair were ruled out with injuries. Wickham played in the reserves friendly at Spurs to prepare himself for Sunday’s game but picked up a thigh injury, while a scan revealed that McAuley would require achilles surgery which will sideline him for two months.

Keane says the 17-year-old striker was very much in his thoughts to start at Carrow Road: “I was thinking about throwing Connor in on Sunday and then he picked up the injury. With the game on Sunday we thought he’d have time to recover from the full 90 at Spurs and then he goes and gets injured.

“The boy will be disappointed. As much as we can talk about missing out on him, I’m sure he’s getting frustrated himself, but he’s got to keep his head.

“He’s only 17 and I’ve worked with and played with young players before who go through a phase when they are 17 or 18 and pick up injury after injury because they’re still growing.

“We hope Connor doesn’t grow too much more, but the body’s still maturing, muscles are developing and he’s picked up this injury which looked a sore one. As soon as he did it we knew he’d be out for Sunday.”

The Town boss says the England U21 international has been unfortunate to pick up injuries to both ankles and now his thigh since pre-season: “When you’re a young player you need a bit of luck, you need a run of games, you need to avoid injury and Connor’s had none of those.

“I think he’s only played two or three full 90 minutes in six or seven months. At the Tottenham game the other day we were going to give him 90 minutes and he got injured after 65.

“He scored a good goal and looked a real threat, but it’s only two weeks he’s out for, let’s not get too down about it. But my concerns back in the summer were that if we lost senior players we would suffer and we have. It’s been one of those seasons where it’s been frustrating on that front.”

Keane says defensive linchpin Gareth McAuley had been pencilled in to make his return against the Canaries: “We were actually hoping Gareth might be involved after a week’s rest, but he had another scan on Monday and they operated on him pretty quickly.

“We’re looking at him being out for a couple of months, maybe a bit less. It’s a big blow to us, particularly when you consider we lost Darren O’Dea for six or seven weeks and we lost Damien Delaney for a couple of months at the start of the season.

“Luke Hyam’s out for five weeks, Connor Wickham at the start of the season, Connor a few weeks ago and again on Wednesday. It’s been stop-start for a lot of our players.

“Our plan was to have more of a settled squad and team, and of course we lost Steady and Jon Walters on top of that, so we’ve had to deal with a few setbacks. For us to lose Gareth for a couple of months is a big blow, but it’s a case of just getting on with it.”

The Town manager says the number of injuries to his key players this season has been a significant problem: “Every team will suffer injuries, I never thought for one minute we wouldn’t have that, but I think that the players we’ve lost are important players.

“I think what we’ve had is too many young players in our team and they’ve been depending on one another. I’ve no problem with playing the younger players, but in the Championship to be going in with four, five or six in a starting XI is hard going.

“In defence of the players they’ve rolled their sleeves up, but we need to do better than we did last weekend. It’s all well and good being solid, you’ve got to score and we need to be more of a goal threat and hopefully it’s a great opportunity for some of our players.”

The Blues boss says no one was targeted as a loan signing as cover for McAuley with Keane feeling the options he already has at the club — youngster Troy Brown along with the left-sided Damien Delaney and Darren O’Dea — were as good as any alternatives available elsewhere: “I don’t think there were centre-halves out there who were better than what we’ve got, although it’s a risk, I know that.”

Keane says the only loan move out that was on the cards before Thursday’s deadline was a potential switch for Shane O’Connor: “Shane had an opportunity to go out. I spoke to him on Thursday and he wanted to stay and I’ve no problem with that. We feel that some of our young players can go out to get some games.

“That was the only one really, Jack Ainsley’s at Histon and that was it. With the squad as it is at the moment, as much as we want players to go and get experience, we need to cover ourselves. Christmas will be a busy time, no doubt.”

Photo: Action Images

BrettenhamBlue added 10:02 - Nov 27 It is good that we didn't lose Shane O'Connor. I am an avid supporter of Keane but I, like everyone else, am bemused why O'Connor isn't even in the 1st 16. I trust we will have no new injuries over Xmas,our squad is pretty depleted already and a couple more injuries would make us very thin on the ground indeed. Think the new signings (Guiverloon and Fallon) will strengthen our ability to use the long ball. Team for Norwich if I was in charge Murphy Guiverloon,O'Dea, Delaney, Smith, O'Connor Edwards,Leadbitter, Norris, Colback Scotland To come on during the game Townsend,Fallon, Livermore

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itfc1981 added 10:15 - Nov 27 Keane: 'and of course we lost Steady and Jon Walters on top of that, so we've had to deal with a few setbacks' You sold them!
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itfc1981 added 10:20 - Nov 27 Why does Keane do wierd things. O'Connor is not brilliant but not bad and worth a go, yet Keane wanted him out on loan??
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stinkiusminkius added 10:25 - Nov 27 "recognised right back" - not a saying i ever expected to hear coming from keane. But at least he has some excuses ready. He is a brilliant manager, but just unlucky.
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hyamighty added 10:28 - Nov 27 Unfair to accuse Keane of selling Walters as it was against his wishes.
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Back_The_Boss added 10:57 - Nov 27 Bad news regarding McAuley, it's a big blow.
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Garv added 11:02 - Nov 27 Rkeaneisagod IS Roy Keane in disguise. Bizarre team selection and why are you gunning so for the 451/541 boring defensive hoof ball to be played?! WE WANT TO BEAT NORWICH NOT SNATCH A 0-0 DRAW!!!!! Why oh why has oconnor not been our 1st choice left back all season its driving me insane! He had a long spell playing there last season and impressed everyone, nippy, can tackle, can attack and cross. Somehow he doesn't even make the bench. Roy if you want us to stop getting on the young players' backs then play the better option!

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Calmingwind added 11:18 - Nov 27 certainly is puzzling about shane, i mean we all saw him last year did a fine job for a debut season. if i can remeber back i think he did have an injry at the start of the season but so far has not figured at all, im assuming hes fit or though maybe not match fit as we dont have that many reserves matches anymore but hes not even made the LC matches. just speculation but maybe hes not showing enough in training? or hes had words with keane? as RK does pick the team from performers/best attitudes in training generally or has in the past has anyone been to a reserves match lately and seen him play?

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GiveusaWave added 11:30 - Nov 27 It is really puzzling about Shane O'Connor. He is a firm fans favourite from his performances last season and for some reason never makes the squad. He is meant to be match fit and has played a number of games for the reserves. Must be a fall out with Keane, can't imagine why he is not playing otherwise. I would trust Fulop in goal for this one. Need 2 up front and we need to stop playing "hoofball" (it will not work against Norwich). Maybe Civelli to come on in the later stages? Would love to see our most creative player back in action......

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:46 - Nov 27 well done Keano ..too many young players in our team and they rely on each other,you are probably right.......hang on , didnt we have some experienced players, ....oh sh;t you outed them.So dosnt that mean you have put too much pressure on the kids ?is that one reason we are struggling to find top form , dosnt that mean you have f;cked up.Im going to my last match this week until you are gone,i hope we win against canaries just because its them,but i hope you are not around too long .

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h32 added 11:50 - Nov 27 Bad Luck, Injuries upon injuries, it goes on - I wonder how many players really want to play right now ???????????? ............. for reasons best, and only for themselves !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matty Hollands - a dying breed.......... indeed.
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blrmy added 12:01 - Nov 27 I'm not particularly pro or anti Keane, but as posts above show it's impossible to discuss on here when so many posters either get their facts wrong and/or speak without even knowing reasons behind decisions. Money on a surprise victory tomorrow, COYB!
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Skip73 added 12:09 - Nov 27 Yes blrmy, some of the people on here are just an embarrasment.
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Mark added 12:13 - Nov 27 It does read a bit like Keane is getting his excuses ready before the Norwich match, i.e. as I said I would have played McAuley and Wickham for this match but they were unavailable, the young lads did their best but we can't have a settled squad because of x, y and z outside my control... The fact is all teams have injuries. Yes, Delaney, O'Dea and McAuley all had some time out, but that is football. I don't think we've been particularly injury hit in comparison to other clubs. Norwich have a string of injuries at the moment don't they? I don't want to hear that as an excuse tomorrow if we lose. The decision not to give our number 3 (O'Connor) a single game at left-back despite all the problems in that position this season is bewildering. Kennedy is injured at the moment and O'Dea and Smith are centre-backs so surely we should not be trying to put O'Connor out on loan?! As for Keane being forced to sell Stead, well, he only sold for £250K so surely he could have said he would rather keep Stead and pay his wages rather than the wages of all these loanees?

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dirtydingusmagee added 12:42 - Nov 27 spot on Mark, getting the excuses in ''i would have '' yer right, we know that Keano ,but ....
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:43 - Nov 27 quivering bum cheeks springs to mind .
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h32 added 13:35 - Nov 27 Skip73 - to whom? - results, tactics, and general lack of vision are the biggest embarrasments to the Club right now.
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jas0999 added 13:46 - Nov 27 Walters pretty much sold himself and Stead went against Roy's wishes.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:53 - Nov 27 Yes jas0999, why ?
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h32 added 16:48 - Nov 27 jason0999 - that's your interpretation of the situation, but as dirtydingusmagee asks: Why ?? - both players doing VERY well at their new clubs - again Why ??...... couldn't they do it with us ............. truthfully I think we all know the answer, including you !!! In the very unlikely event of a victory at Carrot Road tomorrow - all cracks / crevices will be papered over by some I guess. Still hope Keane succeeds - but it needs to start tomorrow, AND CONTINUE, otherwise even the ostrich's will have to, at long last, smell the coffee.

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roadart66 added 19:02 - Nov 27 i for one is in support of Roy keane i hope he does well for us i may upset a few of you but i dont care you should back him and the team and stop living in the past, there are so many teams who are chasing that pot of gold in the premership yes its upseting for all of us not to see the Town not doing well but who would come in if Roy goes and change things, win,lose,or draw keep faith in the team and manager what ever the result is tomorrow against the scum sing your hearts out

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Barhamblue added 19:32 - Nov 27 Totally agree roadart66! Good post for once!
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Ipswich24 added 21:42 - Nov 27 O connor has got to be left back team for tonmoro sud be Murphy in goal Zuiveroon right back O connor left back Delanay centre back Smith centre back Peters right mid Leadbitter centre Norris centre Colback left Priskin up top With Townsend hovering in free role Anyone agree
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Blue041273 added 15:42 - Nov 28 How much further do we have to sink? It was simply dreadful. Nothing at all to take from the game. We are going nowhere. 1.4 Norwich. I don't think I'll be sleeping for a while. Where's that cat?
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