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

R_LAMB3 added 00:32 - Feb 8 I think even if loach had been fit Mick would of played Henderson in this game because we need a strong keeper to try and keep Rhodes from scoring. Thanks to Mr Keane who failed to notice a natural striker who has since gone on to score over a hundred goals and been picked for Scotland and scored goals for them to Where would Town be now if Rhodes had scored all those goals for us' But he was just one of the top players he got rid of and replace them with doughnuts. One of the worst Managers Ipswich ever had and Jewell had a huge job trying to clear up his mess of which he failed and now poor Mick is trying to clear up behind them both. Please Town fans dont give young Rhodes a hard time on saturday because it was not he fault he left Town because some head strong Irishman who was a better player then he was a Manager pushed him out the door. Lets hope Henderson can somehow stop him from scoring against us. Good luck Town may the force be with you.

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mattraisin added 01:50 - Feb 8 Kerryblue clearly a budgie in disguise. If not what possible pleasure do you get from slating a player who has done well for us when asked in front of often shocking defence.
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kerryblue added 14:39 - Feb 8 Mattraisin I take offence to be called a budgie by the likes of you,I take it your one of these Loach lovers and no matter what he does you cant see any wrong ,He has let us down alot this season with clangers and he isnt talented enough for to be our number 1,obviously Mick Mc Carthy sees waht I and most other fans see and thats why Henderson is back here again either you wake up and smell the coffee or pay a visit to specsavers,the only time Ive seen Loach do well this season is on my sons Playstation

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