Boss Mick McCarthy is remaining tight-lipped on whether Bartosz Bialkowski or Dean Gerken will start in goal for the Blues at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday. Town are largely free of injury, but McCarthy says on-loan Crystal Palace man Jonny Williams might have played the last game of his spell at Portman Road.

The Town manager confirmed that Gerken and midfielder Cole Skuse are fit after groin problems: “Both of them have trained this week and both are available for selection for Saturday.”

Regular first-choice Gerken keeper suffered his injury in the warm-up at Blackpool and summer signing Bialkowski has kept two clean sheets in three wins during his absence.

McCarthy says Williams, who suffered a groin injury in the 1-0 home victory over Watford a fortnight ago, has returned to the Eagles for treatment.

“Jonny was around the place but I spoke to Neil Warnock on Monday and he asked their physio to speak to Jonny,” McCarthy said.

“I discussed it with him, I think he wanted to have a look at him and now having seen him they want him to do the rehab there, which I understand. We all think we do the best job, and certainly for our own players we probably do.

“Whether that will take him to the end of his loan I don’t know, but they’ve got recall on him anyway and I think they need all hands to the pump.”

He added: “Four weeks might be to get him back training, then if he’s out for those four weeks it could take him two weeks to get him fully fit, bearing in mind Jonny’s had a number of injuries.

“He’s a tough little devil. He gets kicked from pillar to post and all his injuries seem to be really hefty knocks. I don’t know, but it’ll probably take him to the end of his loan and I think they’ll want to take a look at him themselves.”

Recent short-term signing Jack Collison - who is yet to make the matchday 18 - is the only other player sidelined at present, the former West Ham man having picked up a knee problem in the U21s recently.

Regarding Town’s international players, McCarthy says they’ve all come back without suffering knocks: “They’re all OK. Didz and Murph both played 75 minutes for Ireland came back OK.

“Christophe Berra didn’t play at all so I was really hoping he’d come back OK and he has, and Tommy Smith played two 90 minutes and he’s back and raring to go again.”

Luke Hyam is available again having been banned for the Watford game having picked up five bookings.

Photo: Action Images

BLUEBEAT added 15:39 - Nov 20 Collision has a knee problem. Oh? Really? !
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BLUEBEAT added 15:39 - Nov 20 Collision has a knee problem. Oh? Really? !
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Bergholtblue added 15:43 - Nov 20 Feel sorry for Jonno he really doesn't get any protection from the Refs at this level. Now its time for Bru and Bish to step up and show that the won't be missed. I think that they are more than capable.
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irishtim added 15:47 - Nov 20 Think Gerks should be on the Bench. Would be unfair to pick him after 3 straight wins imo.
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cromwellblue added 16:01 - Nov 20 Not fussed which keeper he picks. Please leave Skuse at home, the midfield has been just fine without him, proving the point that he is the weak link. Hyam back in with Bru and set the rest around them.
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ChrisL_ITFC added 16:17 - Nov 20 My selection would be: - GerkenChambersSmithBerraMingsHyamBruBishopHuntMcGoldrickMurphy Substitutes: Bialkowski   Parr   Anderson   Tabb   Skuse   Bajner   Salmon    I would have put Stewart on the bench instead of Skuse if it had been a home game.
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Popeye added 16:51 - Nov 20 I said when Williams got injured that he probably wouldn't play for Town again this season and it looks like MM thinks the same.
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therein61 added 17:11 - Nov 20 On the subject of Williams it is a disgrace the way that he has been kicked more than the opposition kick the bloody ball!!!! all without any protection from the ref full credit to him for picking himself up time and time again and getting on with the game, but the Watford thug did an excellent job on him which was just total premeditated violence I wish him all the very best for the future as alas I think that's the last we will see of him, time now for our midfielders to step up and show that they can fill the void I am confident that most of them can.

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karls_dad added 17:24 - Nov 20 I really hope he goes with Bartosz, he looked to command his area better, and certainly was up for catching the ball instead of Gerks punching, from what i have seen he is by far the better keeper and can only get better with more game time. but i bet a quid its Gerks!
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PeekFreans added 17:33 - Nov 20 The professional foul on Williams by Joel Ekstrand was an absolute disgrace and should (we all agree) have resulted in a straight red. The satisfaction of us then going on to beat W@nkford was great to see, yet Ekstrand's action has, potentially put us at a disadvantage for a while - something that W@nkford will no doubt be happy about. However, if Bru and Bishop carry on playing as they have been - as Bergholt Blue states - we shouldn't miss Jonny too much. Such as shame though....Jonny gave us that little something extra. Still, a top two spot is still eminently do-able and should we go up, the final justice would be to see Watford implode and remain stuck in the Championship. No sleep 'til Bournemouth! COYB!

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jas0999 added 17:56 - Nov 20 Shame about Williams, but less of a concern than last season as we have some decent options such as Bishop and Bru.
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Letchworth_Blue added 18:12 - Nov 20 I'd go with the same team as ChrisL except swap Gerks and Bart.
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neillrumsey added 18:40 - Nov 20 Bart for me deserves to keep his place . He can be heard from my seat in the Bobby Robson Upper, organizing the defence. I can never hear Gerken. Defenders need that reassurance all the time from the last line of defence. GK is such an important possession. Sad to see Williams return to Palace but what a big left he gave the team and the fans. He's positive in possession and creates problems for any opponents. Agree with other posts he is fouled more than any other player maybe because he sees so much of the ball and is a danger. Yes agree the Watford tackle will some refs would have been red but I wouldn't blame the opposition . Good players are targeted Berra on MacMannaman against Wigan. I don't agree with this type of tactic but it exists at every level. Point at Bournemouth will be a great result COYB

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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:41 - Nov 20 Id go Bart, think he deserves the extended run after the last 3 games
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nunny97 added 18:46 - Nov 20 Bialkowski Chambers Smith Berra Mings Bru Hyam Hunt Bishop Murphy Mcgoldrick
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brittaniaman added 19:16 - Nov 20 I think a majority of fan would go for Bialkowski in goal !!!! A run in the team could do him a lot of good and see how he does develop to see if he is our number one ????
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tractorboy12341234 added 21:39 - Nov 20 Bialkowski, Mings, Berra, Smith, Chambers, Skuse, Hyam, Bru, Hunt, McGoldrick, Murphy Gerken, Parr, Tabb, Bishop, Anderson, Ambrose, Sammon
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blueboy1981 added 22:36 - Nov 20 Better keeper on all fronts is Bart' - as for Collison - as expected, on the 'table'.
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Samassi100Abou added 22:46 - Nov 20 Not Gerks please he's a back up keeper always has been always will be !
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Tractorog added 23:52 - Nov 20 Collison has turned into a real Subbuteo player hasn't he? always on the table, never on the pitch.
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