Manager Paul Jewell says it’s a shame that Player of the Year Aaron Cresswell’s “terrific” first season with the Blues has come to an early end due to the hamstring injury he suffered during Saturday’s home defeat to Millwall. The Blues boss says full-back is amongst the areas he needs to strengthen over the summer.

Jewell said: “He’s done his hamstring. If there’s any good time to get injured it’s probably now but it’s a shame for him as he’s had a terrific season. He’s pulled his hamstring pretty badly we think.

“We know we need to strengthen in the summer and one of the areas where we need to add cover is the full-back area.”

Cresswell cost the Blues tribunal-set compensation of £240,000 rising to £520,000 based on appearances and promotion when he moved to Suffolk from Tranmere last July.

The Liverpool-born defender, named the Supporters Club Player of the Year at Saturday’s Awards Evening, has only missed one previous game this season having been suspended for the away game at Millwall in October after being red-carded in the home match with Crystal Palace.

On the other flank, skipper Carlos Edwards has missed only the defeat to Doncaster at Portman Road when he was dropped in favour of loanee Reece Wabara.

Jewell says Town have been lucky that until now both full-backs have stayed fit and on form: “I think at times this year we’ve got by. We’re lucky our two full-backs haven’t been injured and arguably they’ve been our two best players this season, the most consistent.

“We’ve been fortunate but the odds are we’re going to need cover, certainly someone who can play left-back or right-back. We do need a couple of centre-halves bringing into the building as well.”

The Blues boss will have to consider who to play at left-back in Cresswell’s absence in the season’s final game at Doncaster next week. Damien Delaney could switch to full-back from centre-half with Ibrahima Sonko coming into the side as was the case after Cresswell went off on Saturday, while veteran Mark Kennedy is also an option.

However, with Sonko — the only alternative recognised centre-half to the current first-choice duo — leaving the club in the summer and Kennedy retiring to join the coaching staff, Jewell could look elsewhere.

Youngster Joe Whight may be in the running for his debut, while Jack Ainsley is another possibility with Carlos Edwards perhaps swapping flanks to allow the 21-year-old to play in his preferred right-back role.

Better news for the visit to the Keepmoat Stadium is that Lee Martin and Luke Hyam could be available having missed the Millwall match: “Lee’s had a scan and he’s got a little bit of inflammation in his groin and I think he’ll be OK for next week.

“Luke’s just got a grade one tear which isn’t too bad so hopefully he may be training by the end of the week.”

Jewell anticipates shuffling his pack, with 16-year-old Byron Lawrence again set to be on the bench, but says he hasn’t got a huge number of young players pushing for inclusion: “We’ve not got a plethora of people coming through but obviously there’ll be changes with the one or two injuries we’ve picked up. We’ll pick ourselves up on Monday and go again.”

Meanwhile, Derby boss Nigel Clough has confirmed that midfielder Paul Green, who was interesting the Blues in January, has told the Rams he will be moving on when his contract is up in the summer having failed to agree new terms.

Green, 29, was brought to Pride Park by Blues manager Jewell when he was in charge of the Rams.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 06:25 - Apr 23 I wanna see whight, hyam and carson play. hyam can replace leadbitter and carson can replace murphy
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Marcus added 07:24 - Apr 23 I wouldn't mind Kennedy getting a farewell run out although feel a younger player should start. There were too many don't give a damn players last weekend, we need to make a point and give some of the fringe players a chance. Essentially we need a 'Have Something to Proove XI'.
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bontcho added 07:27 - Apr 23 Sorry to see Cresswell injured but surely Joe Whight should play Sunday.
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bontcho added 07:36 - Apr 23 MarcusSg- good way of putting it that, a something to prove XI. Mine would be- ALB Ainsley Smith Delaney Whight Hyam Bullard* JET Stevenson Carson Chopra Subs: Cropper, Edwards, Lawrence, Scotland, Ellington.
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Mark added 08:05 - Apr 23 We have been lucky with injury at full-back and all over the pitch this season. I would hope that Joe Whight could cover Cresswell on Saturday, as if not is there a lot of point him being at the club? I thought Sonko looked quite good when he came on against Millwall, and imagine if he had have scored with that header late on! A bit unfortunate to be released I think, but I guess his wages must be higher than we'd like to pay for cover and I suppose here are concerns over his injury record.

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Bergholtblue added 08:31 - Apr 23 After Saturdays performance, there are 11 areas on the pitch that need strengthening.
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Karlosfandangal added 09:05 - Apr 23 Green for Leadbitter ?
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Sindre94 added 09:13 - Apr 23 Rather whight than kennedy tbf!
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brian_a_mul added 09:17 - Apr 23 Oh god no not Paul Green! A very average player with little to offer at this level plus we are good for midfielders!
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newboy added 09:30 - Apr 23 You are a joke you need to strengthen full back and there you are kicking the U18 captain out of the door i hope you are going on some training corses over the summer break so when you come back you may have some idea how to run a club
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Len_Brennan added 09:46 - Apr 23 Agree with Brian Mul. Green is no replacement for Leadbitter & won't offer the qualities we're probably going to lose when he goes. Luke Hyam however will give everything that Green can, and has the potential to do it far better. Steer clear of Green. Joe Whight has to start at left back, surely, otherwise what's the point? Would be happy for Kennedy to replace him with 10 minutes to go for a final runout though.

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Garv added 11:16 - Apr 23 You didn't see the second goal then Mark?
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BlueVelvet added 12:56 - Apr 23 It is very sad. What's equally sad is the complete lack of appreciation that PJ and the players paid to the remaining crowd on Sat afternoon. They are all paid to to perform to their audience, I pay to see them perfom and I expected more after the game. I noticed that Clegg left the Directors box at 85 mins on the clock - couldn't even be bothered to stay to the end - maybe he has a weak bladder, no, he's just arrogant and probably getting ready for after show drinks!

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Surco72 added 14:14 - Apr 23 Ainsley should have been tried at right back a long time ago this season as i have lost count the amount of goals Edwards has cost us this year .And to all those saying he is playing out of position ,he has been there over a season now and is still caught out of position every week on a number of occasions as he is never a natural defender . Whight in for Cresswell as playing Sonko proves nothing . Carson for Murphy and continue with Stevenson and Scotland up top and let Chopra start getting ready for next season

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algarvefan added 14:36 - Apr 23 Play the reserve team...we have got one right??????
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whittonite added 15:07 - Apr 23 i agree with surco on ainsley and disagree with you on edwards .when edwards plays he may get caught out of position but overall did turn in some superb games which got him into the mix for player of the season.on ainsley the fact that jewell didn't try ainsley out is worrying . we were told one thing by the board and jewell that this was a work in progress, a step at a time etc only to find after we were getting stuffed most games that they tried to go up in one go on the cheap!!!how many times this season have we been crying out for carlos's pace up front or for someone to do something different for us.for me if you have a player at the club with the right attitude you got to try him out before you buy(thats if your trying to build foundations) and jewell had more than enough time to do that.he didn't do that badly in the games at center back that i saw him play. we gave cressy the chance so why haven't we given a natural right back a chance????

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Surco72 added 15:54 - Apr 23 Edwards is only in the mix for player of the year for me ,for effort and the amount of appearances certainly not for his ability as a defender which at right back should be his primary function ,not going forward .I agree he should be played further forward as he is one of our best going forward imo and believe he has been wasted and costly to the team at right back . Our centre backs have been blasted all season yet they are constantly having to cover across for wandering full backs ,ironically both fighting it out for player of the season !! Agree though wittonite it is worrying that Ainsley hasnt been tried at all seeing as we have conceded so many .I have only seen him once at right back away at Exeter in the cup last season and he was dreadful that night perhaps Jewell doesnt rate him or Peters ?

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hairbear added 19:06 - Apr 23 Surco are you saying that our centre backs are good enough and that full backs are the problem? IMO the cb get all the flack because they deserve all the flack! Two quality cb would go a hell of a long way to making us a decent side.
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will4 added 19:23 - Apr 23 Think Ainsley deserve a chance as he was arguably the best player against Northampton and peterbourough , and he was playing cb rather than his preferred rb position. Jewells recently handed him a 2 year deal, so obviously does see potential.
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BigginBlue added 19:48 - Apr 23 Sad to see but as jewell says if it were to be any time in the season, now is as good as ever. 2012/2013 will hopefully be another great year for cressy COYB
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walberswick added 22:09 - Apr 23 it's a shame that manager Paul Jewel's “terrific” first full season with the Blues has come to an early end due to him being sacked after Saturday's home defeat to Millwall.
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JayT added 22:18 - Apr 23 Not sure we will have Cropper for much longer, hes saying on twitter how his life had been turned 'upside down' in a moment and talking to Lavery about how he'll be a big loss to 'that club' (presuming thats us) so im guessing he's going to be released
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JayT added 22:19 - Apr 23 Lavery saying Cropper will be a big loss, not Cropper being big-headed
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