Keeper Scott Loach will miss Saturday’s trip to Blackburn after sustaining a suspected sprained thumb in training today. Winger Lee Martin remains a doubt with the hamstring injury he suffered in training prior to last Saturday’s 4-0 home win against Middlesbrough.

Manager Mick McCarthy said: “Lee Martin has got a bit of a hamstring still and that remains the same, he’s a doubt for Saturday.

“And sadly for Loachy he’s sprained his thumb this morning. That’s what you get for having a clean sheet and four goals at the opposite end.

“He’s out more or less, I don’t think there’s any chance of him playing,” the Blues boss added.

As to how long the former Watford man might be sidelined, he wasn’t sure: “If he’s sprained his thumb, it’ll be however long it is. He’ll get loads of treatment, but I don’t know.”

Stephen Henderson, who re-signed on loan from West Ham last week, will start in place of Loach.

Skipper Carlos Edwards played for Trinidad and Tobago in a 2-0 home friendly defeat to Peru overnight and McCarthy says he’ll speak to the midfielder before he makes a decision on whether he starts at Ewood Park, having previously rested Tommy Smith in similar circumstances.

“I haven’t seen him yet,” he said. “He has remarkable levels of fitness Carlos Edwards, especially for a guy of 34. I need to find out what he’s done and see how he is first.

“I’ve not spoken to him. I don’t know if he played, how long he played. I’ll get a feel off Carlos and see.”

In terms of his own health, he was back at the club on Monday having missed training throughout the previous week and the game against Middlesbrough due to flu, McCarthy says he’s on the mend: “I’m still not right, but I’m getting there.”

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 15:11 - Feb 7 Last thing he needed with Henderson back in the fold!!
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Garv added 15:14 - Feb 7 Feel sorry for Scott. No luck.
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wkj added 15:16 - Feb 7 I'm quite happy to see another game without Lee Martin; not tryin to be down on him for the sake I it; but the service into the box on Saturday seems something of a much higher pedigree than what Martin has offered in a good few games
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Big_Foot_Blue added 15:20 - Feb 7 Massive shame for Scott, does well to regain and impress and then when he needs to keep impressing to keep Hendo out of the team this happens. Obviously I want Hendo to do well as it means we are doing well but that will make it very difficult for Loach to regain his place again which would be very harsh on him. Loach is my favourite but for Ipswich to do well from now on that might mean he doesnt get his place back :/ bit of a catch 22

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StowTractorBoy added 15:46 - Feb 7 I do feel sorry for Loach although he is not my favourite but he would definitely have played on Saturday. Up to Henderson now to impress and keep his place. Good competition does no one any arm and Mick is gradually getting competition all over the pitch.
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kozmik added 15:49 - Feb 7 Wordsworth instead of Edwards Saturday?
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Michael11 added 15:53 - Feb 7 Got to feel sorry for him, he finally gets his chance and does well and now he's probably going to find himself on the bench for the rest of the season. Sure glad we re-signed Henderson now. Very anxious about the possibility of seeing DJ and Rhodes as a partnership against us though.
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brian_a_mul added 16:18 - Feb 7 Tough break for Loach, glad MM and the club made the right call in bringing Henderson back on loan. Murphys Law says Henderson will pick up an injury at Blackburn!
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petermorris added 16:24 - Feb 7 Poor old Loachy - no more hitch hiking for him this week.
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tractorfact added 16:29 - Feb 7 Shame as he would have played I think MM will prob stick with same team if Edwards is ok would like to see Wordsworth at some point oh well in Mick we trust See you at Blackburn lads , Jordan finally plays against us eh He wont get any stick, thats down to bad management he wasnt really given a chance at town
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hollywoodginge added 16:44 - Feb 7 And to think people questioned bringing back Henderson
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Mach_foreignBlue added 16:58 - Feb 7 At least we'll have a better keeper between the sticks at Ewood Park. Unlucky for Loach though.
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village_blue added 17:00 - Feb 7 Saves MM having to make a descision to drop Loach I suppose. I get the feeling that MM doesn't really rate Loach, it's such a shame for Loach after coming back into the team and doing well.
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Edmunds5 added 17:23 - Feb 7 This is one of the advantages of having a keeper on loan, Henderson is a capable deputy and in our situation i'm greatful of that because we need points. Hard on Scott because he's kept a couple of clean sheets and looked quite solid and I think Mick will take this into account. Mick is a good man manager and I'm sure he will say the right things to Scott because he isn't the type to just leave someone in the cold for such an unfortunate reason. Whether he picks Scott when he'sback fit I suppose that depends alot on how well Henderson does, but he will pick the team he thinks is best prepared to get a result and so we have to back him in terms of selection.

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sirbenofmorlingshire added 18:08 - Feb 7 I'm not saying cut the thumb off as thats just daft, but it did make me think, for whatever reason... wonder if there ha ever been a profesional goalie who only had 3 fingers or maybe no thumb???
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jas0999 added 18:10 - Feb 7 Not a fan of Loach - just a personal opinion - but that said, I do think he has been a bit unfortunate. Give MM credit, he stuck with him last weekend, whereas the last manager dropped him at the drop of a hat. A chance for Henderson to impress, but although I am not convince by Loach, he is at least our player. Don't agree with the loan situation.
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not_a_witty_name added 18:59 - Feb 7 Gutted, just as he was about to make the shirt his too.
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kerryblue added 19:06 - Feb 7 He must have been sucking it too much,thank God Hendersons back
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StuartBrett8 added 19:25 - Feb 7 The 'Live' page just went nut's... has someone broken TWTD?
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sereneblue added 19:36 - Feb 7 Unlucky Scott. My choice any day of the week.
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kerryblue added 20:38 - Feb 7 Maybe he hurt his thunb counting Chopras cash
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h32 added 20:46 - Feb 7 ......perhaps the Coach/s will have a day with him on his kicking !!!!! - would be time well spent.
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kerryblue added 20:58 - Feb 7 h32 a day wouldnt be the tip of the iceberg,he is our worst keeper since Jon Hallworth
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beerhelps added 21:10 - Feb 7 Did'nt Jon Hallworth get MOM in every apperance he made?.......OK, it was only one!
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kerryblue added 21:19 - Feb 7 Hallworth played 45 games for Town alot more than Loach will thankfully.
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