Teddy Bishop is out of Saturday’s game away against Championship leaders Watford and Jonny Parr is a doubt, while David McGoldrick, Luke Hyam, Dean Gerken and Darren Ambrose again all miss out.

McCarthy confirmed that none of those who have missed the last few games will be ready to make their return at Vicarage Road.

“No is the answer to that, not at all,” he said. “In fact we’ve got possibly two more missing. Jonny Parr got a kick and he hasn’t trained today, so he’s a doubt.

“And Teddy Bishop won’t play as he’s got sore shins, sort of the onset of shin splints, which is the last thing we want. The pitches have gone from really heavy to being quite firm.

“He came off [on Tuesday], he got a kick on them as well and he won’t be involved on Saturday.

“He will be a top player Bish, I don’t doubt that, but we’ve got to be careful with him. The last thing I need is for him to be suffering with shin splints and missing the rest of the season because if that does become worse that’s what could happen. But we’re not going to let it happen.”

McCarthy says no decision has yet been made on whether Bishop will be left out of the England U19s squad, the 18-year-old having received a first international call earlier in the week.

“I don’t know,” he added. "I’m going to speak to [England U19s coach] Sean O’Driscoll first.

"To be called up for England at any level should be an honour, certainly. It’s sad if he can’t go but I’ve got to give them the medical report first.”

McCarthy hopes Hyam, who has been suffering with a knee injury, McGoldrick, who has had a thigh problem, and Ambrose could return after the international break.

“I hope so,” McCarthy continued. “Luke was out training today. They had to go and introduce me to him because I haven’t seen him for so long.

“He had a smile on his face, he was out on the grass, out in the fresh air and out of the gym. I think he’s far more optimistic.

“Didz, I just don’t know. He’s not been troubled by it too much but he is being troubled by it enough so he can’t train.”

He says McGoldrick won’t go away with the Republic of Ireland next week, having initially been named in Martin O’Neill’s provisional squad.

“He’s not fit, I haven’t got him down on my desk as being in the preliminary squad because they know he’s injured,” the Town boss said.

“Darren Ambrose must be ruing the fact that he trained that day and he pulled up with his hamstring. That’s been really long-term injury.”

Keeper Gerken will again be left out having been knocked unconscious during last week’s game at Middlesbrough.

“He’s not involved because we’ve got one game and then we’ve got two weeks before the next one so what’s the point of taking any risk?” McCarthy added. “No a chance. He’s fine, but I’m not going to risk him.”

The Blues manager says there are currently no loan additions on the horizon with the deadline a week today: “Not at the moment, nothing’s happening.”

Photo: Action Images

karls_dad added 14:35 - Mar 19 Kinnell! just who have we got left? this is the price of having such a small squad! down to the bare bones, shudder the thought of what will happen come Watford!
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hoppy added 14:39 - Mar 19 With Bishop out and Parr a doubt, who'll be the creator for our Watford rout?
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PJH added 14:43 - Mar 19 No good news there at all. Should mean that Connolly will be involved though,on the bench at least. Anyway, we will have our usual good following at Watford, a lot more than the 444 of us that went to Middlesbro', COYB
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beeringo added 14:44 - Mar 19 Just a positive thought for the rest of the season, all we need to do is win our home games, we can lose all the rest... it puts us on 76 points which for the past 10 or more seasons has been more than enough to get in the top 6! COYB!!!!
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PJH added 14:46 - Mar 19 Not sure that positive thoughts are allowed beeringo.
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Geoff added 14:50 - Mar 19 Still no Didzy what a surprise.
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itfc1981 added 15:01 - Mar 19 Hopefully our defence will somehow keep a clean sheet. Least if we lose it helps stuff up Norwich's chances...
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NoCanariesAllowed added 15:02 - Mar 19 Blimey. This game was already gonna be hard enough, never mind having to play it with half our regular first teamers missing! Didzy's injury is really starting to feel like last season all over again - although I personally feel our decline began even while he was still in the team. Just reading that other story about Dylan Connolly being close to his debut - at this rate he might end up getting thrown in at the deep end a la Teddy Bishop at Derby!

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mikeybloo88 added 15:03 - Mar 19 Our 2 best midfielders out...I'd say it's time for someone to step up to the plate, but the rest are so clueless, they couldn't find a plate in a greek restaurant...staring down the barrel on Saturday I fear
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BYRNE_16 added 15:14 - Mar 19 @phil a case of the Accidental Lyricist
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juniorblue added 15:19 - Mar 19 This is bad news. Really worried about Saturday now.
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horsehollerer added 15:19 - Mar 19 Well that doesn't leave too much creativity in the team! On the plus side, Stephen Hunt had his most effective game against Watford at FPR. I'd throw him in as a heel-snapper. We're going to have to battle this one out. Roar them on, you 2,000. Expect nothing from this one... and you never know what might happen. Possibly a robbery? COYB!
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bluefeast added 15:42 - Mar 19 Parr will play have no doubt about that ,but we will be chasing shadows at watford desperately trying not to concede ,but having watched alot of watford this season on you tube update videos they are far far to good for championship sides , they have scored 28 goals this season that involved in excess of 15 passes before they scored ,they also have 2 midfield players on double figures and 3 strikers in double figures with Deeney on 19 having scored in the last straight six matches. Its one hell of a tough ask , i just do not see how we can hope for a result. But stranger things have happened. We need to treat the game like a cup final and die for the cause so to speak....

3

mojo added 15:44 - Mar 19 This is getting really depressing now. I would start Connolly.
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jas0999 added 15:50 - Mar 19 Watford score goals from all over the park. We have virtually no creativity, whilst Tabb is our highest scoring midfield player on two for the season. Surely a loan signing will be brought in if we are serious about a promotion challenge? We will have to play considerably better than we did on Tuesday just to get a point from this one.
6

del45 added 16:02 - Mar 19 What is the record for goals against us away from home against Watford in one game could this record go???? someone must know.
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Geoff added 16:03 - Mar 19 Are we serious about a promotion challenge,i am beginning to think this owner does not want to go up.
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blueherts added 16:05 - Mar 19 The ground is a kiss of death for us - aside from Chopras late goal afew years back ! Yes this is a big blow BUT IT MAY MEAN CONNOLLY will be on bench and hpe he gets a run out Bru must start - Skuse and Tabb will - we know Murphy and Sears Is Hunt fit as he would be good on the left - played great against them at home and he is the type that will love this game Feel strangely confident and for the life of me I dont know It is my closest game and always a good day out but usually ends in disappointment Time for a change !

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cromwellblue added 16:06 - Mar 19 Relax everyone. This league is BONKERS. With this news it's such an obvious home win we'll probably stuff them.
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bohslegend added 16:22 - Mar 19 Its a bit of a hiding to nothing this game. Not one we are expected to win so perhaps the attitude should be to go for it without fear? Bru, Skuse and Tabb in the middle, Murph, Sears and Varney up front.
0

MickMillsTash added 16:38 - Mar 19 Murphy to be brought off with 10 to go at Watford with a 'hamstring' strain. Varney to replace him and fall over many times winning debatable free kicks Murphy to be wrapped up and rested - Miss the ireland games and any possible injuries that could be caused by coming into contact with Roy Keane.
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newbie added 16:38 - Mar 19 Everyone is so confident this will be a loss yet Watford are odds against at 11/10 so the way your all talking at least you'll all be rich come Saturday evening.
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paulcooperisgod added 16:47 - Mar 19 Now is the change for MM to show how brave he is and go for it what have we got to lose? Go for 3 at the back with attack minded wing backs to get those crosses in for MURPHY and WOOD/VARNEY to get on the end of, SKUSE and BRU in the centre with SEARS just behind the front 2. Watford like every other club would have been watching us this season and know how stubborn MM is with his set ups. If we just stick to the same 442 and tactics we've played since the new year it could be a total embarrassment. Come on big mick show us your balls

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Seasider added 16:48 - Mar 19 bohslegend:Or perhaps' park the bus'.Still we have fab Tabb. This should mean that he will also have to play Kevin Bru who I feel is our best mf together with Cole Skuse who I thought had his best game, perhaps since he joined Town. Also hope Mick sticks with the 433 but suppose it depends on their formation. COYB
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PJH added 16:51 - Mar 19 As usual there are more negative posts than positive but why? I could understand it if we were Blackpool supporters because I would imagine it is almost impossible to think of anything positive to say there but we are (supposedly) supporters of one of the nine teams with a chance of being in the Premier League next season-three of whom will be. Of course not everything at PR is perfect but then there is no club where everything is perfect.Chelsea will almost certainly win the Premier League but they cocked up the FA Cup and Champions League didn't they? I know that some will say it is not negativity but is realism but the realism is that we could still go up. Please try to occasionally have positive thoughts-or join The Blackpool site where you would probably be happier. COYB

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