Boss Mick McCarthy hopes Town won’t miss midfielder Luke Hyam during his time out of the side due to the gashed leg he suffered at Millwall last week. The 22-year-old misses Saturday’s home game against Reading and is likely to be sidelined for around three weeks.

Hyam has been a virtual ever-present this season and McCarthy is looking to his other midfielders to fill in during the Ipswich-born youngster’s absence: “I hope we don’t miss him and play well and win without him because he has been a regular. I think losing him on Saturday had an effect, seeing him stretchered off, that doesn’t help.

“He’s not going to be out for that long, he’ll be back in three weeks, I would have thought. I’m hoping that we manage without him, play well without him and get results. And I’m sure he feels the same.

“Although it’ll put his position under threat coming back, we’ll be in a better position if we can get some wins.”

Aside from Hyam, striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who is out until early next month with a hamstring injury, and players out on loan, the Town boss has a full squad to pick from with Anthony Wordsworth taking part in extra training sessions having been out with tonsillitis.

“Other than Sylvan, there’s nobody else,” he added. “Woody’s training, the two lads are out on loan, Elliott and Freddie, and everybody else is fine. Woody’s in the squad, there’s a question whether he’s ready, but he’s in the squad.”

The Town boss says he has had a look at Reading’s 7-1 victory over Bolton last week and believes their approach has changed since the Blues’ visit to the Madejski Stadium on the opening day, when the Royals won 2-1.

“I’ve watched the game and they played well,” he said. “They’ve got a good squad of players, I think they’ve got a few injuries and they’ve gone to 4-4-2.

“They’re not like they were when we played them earlier on in the season when they were trying to be really expansive, they’ve been a bit more direct with two wingers, two strikers, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Adam Le Fondre are playing up front.

“They’ve been a bit more up and down, 4-4-2, a bit more dynamic with two good wingers and it’s got them results.

“Strange, isn’t it? Maybe because of injuries you find a formation and it works, and I just heard he’ll stick to that and they’ll be playing the team that won 7-1. I think they were aided and abetted by some poor defending, I have to be honest.”

Having lost three games on the trot and with almost everyone fit, McCarthy has decisions to make regarding his selection.

Keeper Dean Gerken is set to keep his place in goal, despite last week’s error, while the back four of Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith and Aaron Cresswell will continue with a loan move for Middlesbrough’s Frazer Richardson set to be confirmed early next week.

With Reading lining up 4-4-2, McCarthy seems likely to set his side out in a similar system with Ryan Tunnicliffe probably taking over from Hyam in the centre of midfield alongside Cole Skuse.

The Town boss has options wide but skipper Carlos Edwards is likely to continue on the right, while two Reading players are the alternatives on the left with Stephen Hunt probably getting the nod ahead of Jay Tabb.

Up front, top scorer David McGoldrick and Daryl Murphy look set to continue their partnership.

Reading boss Nigel Adkins has said he intends to stick with the side which has won the last two matches: "I expect to name the same team. I'm coming out and saying that now. We've got that momentum with us and we've got to keep that going.

"At the moment the lads who have the shirts are playing well and we want to keep that continuity as best as possible."

He added: "We know Ipswich are going to be tough. That was highlighted at the start of the season It was a difficult game which we went and won which was really pleasing.

"Mick is a good experienced manager and they have some good players at Ipswich. They have a group that is going to be a big test for us but it's one we're looking forward to because we go there on the back of two good victories."

Winger Hal Robson-Kanu will travel with the squad having recovered from a calf injury but midfielder Danny Guthrie misses out due to a similar problem.

Former England left-back Wayne Bridge and skipper Sean Morrison (both knee) are longer term absentees.

Town have just about had the better of the Royals historically, winning 22 times (21 in the league), drawing nine (nine) and losing 19 (19).

On the opening day of the season at the Madejski Stadium Reading came from behind to condemn the Blues to a 2-1 defeat.

Town midfielder Jay Tabb’s first ever goal at his old home ground saw the Blues take the lead in the 16th minute but the Royals drew level just before the break via what appeared to be a Tyrone Mings own goal, which was ultimately credited to Adam Le Fondre, then Danny Guthrie’s deflected 30-yard strike won it with 15 minutes to go.

The Berkshire club have won their most recent five games against Town, their last at Portman Road in their Championship-winning 2011/12 campaign.

In November 2011 at Portman Road, Town snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the closing moments as Reading left Suffolk with a 3-2 win.

Daryl Murphy opened the scoring 11 minutes after the break, Kaspars Gorkss equalised for the Royals before Josh Carson’s deflected shot put the Blues back in front.

Town looked to have won it but Alex Pearce and Noel Hunt - brother of current Blue Stephen - netted at the death to see Paul Jewell's side to a third successive 3-2 defeat for the first time in their history.

Tabb joined the Blues last summer having been released by the Royals at the end of 2012/13, following a loan spell, after four and a half years at the Madejski Stadium, during which time he helped them to the 2011/12 Championship-winning squad.

Stephen Hunt was a Reading player between June 2005 and August 2009 and was a member of the 2005/06 squad which won the Championship.

Reading keeper Alex McCarthy spent time on loan at Portman Road during 2011/12, making 10 appearances.

Saturday’s referee is Andrew Madley from West Yorkshire, who has shown 71 yellow cards and four red in 24 games so far this season. His most recent Town match was the 2-1 home defeat to Derby in October 2012, Paul Jewell’s last game in charge of the Blues.

Squad from: Gerken, Loach, Chambers, Hammond, Cresswell, Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Edwards, Anderson, Hunt, Tabb, Wordsworth, McGoldrick, Murphy, Nouble, Taylor, Lee.

Photo: Action Images

alfromcol added 15:55 - Jan 24 Not Carlos again please.
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Keaneish added 16:17 - Jan 24 Not Tabb again please.
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Surco72 added 16:22 - Jan 24 Not Nouble again please
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Bluetone added 16:36 - Jan 24 "The two lads are out on loan, Elliott and Freddie" Just shows how much Jack is in McCarthy's plans. More and more it looks as if he doesn't rate Marriott. Maybe time for Jack to look to his future elsewhere. He deserves better treatment than he's getting from this manager.
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jas0999 added 16:43 - Jan 24 I hope hyam makes a full recovery and soon, but he and Skuse are not a good partnership in the middle. We need forward thinking players and creativity. Both are defensive minded. Big game tomorrow, really need to win after some disappointing recent home results.
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StowTractorBoy added 16:47 - Jan 24 Sorry Bluetone there is a chasm of difference between the Skrill Premier and the Championship and Marriott hasn't played a full match for Gillingham yet. His time may come but he is certainly not ready yet.
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luke_38 added 16:58 - Jan 24 I think this could be beneficial.means we'll play a 4-4-2 with Tunnicliffe not on the left. Would be great to see hunt then go on the left with maybe Carlos on the right. Would give us a more natural shape and width!
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Bluetone added 17:09 - Jan 24 @StowTractorBoy. I don't think this Manager is ever going to give him a proper chance hence I think maybe he should seek a permanent move. McCarthy gave Nouble a chance and he is hardly a brilliant player. I think MM is deliberately avoiding giving him a chance. Jack has scored goals at every level he played at and more than in any other position a goal scorer is a goal scorer. Time for Marriott to contemplate doing a "Jordan" and who knows if he does maybe he'll also come back to haunt us.

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Bluetone added 17:10 - Jan 24 I see the "sun shines out of McCarthy's rectum" boys are home from school.
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JWM added 17:18 - Jan 24 With a comment like that Bluetone we can say the same about you! Have you got some homework to be getting on with?
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Seasider added 17:20 - Jan 24 From McCarthys comments looks like he isn't looking to add to midfield which is a pity.Perhaps in his chat this week with the Organ Grinder,he was told he could only add one more to the squad,and with Micks outlook it had to be a defender. However there is still a week to go until the window closes and the Manager has managed to pull the odd rabbit out of the hat;so who knows!

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LiamCP123 added 17:21 - Jan 24 Would like to see Edwards at right wing but not Jay Tabb on left. :/
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bluemikey100 added 17:21 - Jan 24 well hyams goals wont be missed thats for sure
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Bluetone added 17:35 - Jan 24 @JWM the first time I saw a game at PR Scott Duncan was our Manager. The last time we played proper football was when George Burley was the Gaffer. It's time this manager stopped chasing short term Journeymen and started to trust in our own youngsters. And yes if they seek their future elsewhere because of the lack of opportunity here then I wish them every success. The ideal would be for them to be given a proper opportunity here but that seems to happen less and less these days.

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muhrensleftfoot added 17:35 - Jan 24 Mick's tactics these days seem to be to find out the opposition's formation, and match it. Clearly he doesn't think we are very good. In days of old, we would play to our own strengths, and let the opposition worry about what formation we were playing.
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Bluetone added 17:55 - Jan 24 muhrensleftfoot that's why we were successful then and just damned mundane and boring now.
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muhrensleftfoot added 18:18 - Jan 24 I'm obviously not as old as you bluetone. Bill McGarry was in charge when I saw my first game. Last time we were regularly entertained was in Royle' s time.
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blueboy1981 added 18:20 - Jan 24 Bluetone - .... nice one - but remember you're not allowed an opinion, other than what suits some people on here - otherwise their response is abuse. Now that is - SAD. Agree with the point you make - but, of course, not allowed to really.
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nutter added 19:27 - Jan 24 thought it was john duncan and i thought we played some neat football under magilton and royle
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muccletonjoe added 19:43 - Jan 24 We will miss hyam , I have no doubt about that , marriott is good enough for our firtst team , but here is yet another striker about to be given away.
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ITFC_Cairo added 20:02 - Jan 24 Could be a good break for Hyam in the long run. He is young and definitely not tired as a result of his extended run in the team but with his drop in form, it may do him good to have a few weeks out to get his mind sorted and come back fresh for the final few months of the season. Let's be positive and get behind him! Giving him stick is unproductive. As for Marriott, if McCarthy didn't rate him, he wouldn't have sought out a higher club for him to go on loan to. It is important to keep our feet on the ground with him. We got over excited with Wickham and over played him at a young age before sending him off to the Premier League and now he is with a club at the lower end of this league, whereas Rhodes had to fight for his place and play lower league football with Huddersfield (unfortunately as a permanent player) before proving his worth. Who would you rather in your team, Rhodes or Wickham? Easy question. Trust that McCarthy knows what he is doing. He'll be keeping his cards close to his chest with Marriott as he is a young prospect. CYOB

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 20:06 - Jan 24 Beep beep beep beep beep - sorry everyone - blueboy set off the hypocrisy alarm again.
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wayway added 20:29 - Jan 24 Hyam will be missed like a hole in the head
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bennyitfc added 20:32 - Jan 24 If Jay Tabb starts tomorrow I think I'll have to go home
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Warkys_Tash added 21:50 - Jan 24 @ITFC Cairo: Both of them - then we would have had the best strike partnership in the Champs bar none.. Remember Whickham is tucking them away for Wednesday.
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