Boss Mick McCarthy believes the international break has come at the right for his squad, the Blues having climbed back into the top six via back-to-back 1-0 victories over Bolton Wanderers and Watford. Town are next in action when new leaders Bournemouth visit Portman Road on Good Friday with seven Championship games remaining.

“It’s a great time [for the international break]. I’m going to go on the lash for a couple of days, I think!” McCarthy joked after Saturday’s dramatic last-gasp victory at Watford.

“There’ll be some playing internationals and the lads will get next weekend off. They’ll be off Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. They need a break, they’ve had a lot of games and they’re great.”

While David McGoldrick has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland squad and Teddy Bishop has been withdrawn from the England U19s - McCarthy hopes both will be available after the break - plenty of other Town players will be away with international squads.

Daryl Murphy will be with the Republic of Ireland for their European Championships qualifier against Poland in Dublin in next Sunday.

Christophe Berra was named in the Scotland squad for their friendly against Northern Ireland on Wednesday and European Championships qualifier with Gibraltar next Sunday with both games at Hampden Park.

Loanee striker Chris Wood will be with New Zealand for a friendly against South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday 31st March and Kevin Bru with Mauritius, who have home friendlies against Burundi on Wednesday and Togo on Saturday.

Dylan Connolly has been called up by the Republic of Ireland U21s for their first European Championships qualifying round fixture against Andorra in Waterford on Thursday, while fellow youngsters Monty Patterson, Victor Guldbrandsen and Andre Dozzell will join up with the New Zealand U20s, Danish U18s and England U16s respectively next week.

McCarthy added: “I’m going scouting to watch Burundi and Togo against Mauritius to see Kevin Bru play. I’m not going really, I couldn’t swing that one!”

Meanwhile, Town's U21s are in action against Birmingham City at St Andrew's this evening (KO 7pm).

Elsewhere, Blues midfielder Adam McDonnell lost out to Huddersfield’s Danny Kane for the U17 International Player of the Year gong at the FAI International Football Awards in Dublin last night having been one of the three nominees.

McDonnell, 17, who has also won caps at U18 level, is yet to play a competitive game for Town at any level since signing from Shelbourne in September as he is still to receive clearance from FIFA due to red tape relating to his education.

Amongst the winners at the awards was former Blue Colin Healy, now back with Cork City, who was named the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year.

Photo: Action Images

osborne added 06:07 - Mar 23 Good Luck on your travels lads and come back in one piece please
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DurhamTownFan added 07:00 - Mar 23 I thought exactly this after Saturdays result. A few days off and then plenty of time to prepare for an enormous game vs Bournemouth. What a difference a bit of confidence makes!
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town1328 added 07:02 - Mar 23 We've now put ourselves in a great position for a playoff spot, and this international break will help everyone at the club to recharge their batteries ready for the final push! Exciting having something to play for at this time, what a game Bournemouth is going to be.
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bluefeast added 07:18 - Mar 23 Interesting to read that Bouremouth are using this break for intensive training in order for high tempo preperation for the remaining 7 games. They did this in the last international break. Strange one really . Our players may just benefit from a break and rest.
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bobble added 07:36 - Mar 23 2-0 to town against those boringmouth types...
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brittaniaman added 08:39 - Mar 23 bluefeast: probably to practice high tempo Diving as well !!!!!!!!!!!! Eleven penalties this season speaks volumes ?????
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blueherts added 08:49 - Mar 23 True , with the standard of reffing today it is run into someone in the box and fall over ... 11 pens is alot - Having said that , they play some excellent football adn would be worthy partners for us in the automatics !!!...But I would just as easily take a few play off games as well ! Happy Holidays!
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bluefeast added 08:58 - Mar 23 The stats for bournemouth are amazing this season. However 1 pens awarded is probably because they have 4 individual players who dribble in the final third 76% more than any other individual player from any other club. Take a defender on in the box and you may get tripped. Its going to be an interesting game vs them ,absolute opposite styles. I was at the fixture at their place and we were under the cosh for the majority of the game ,however the effort we put in closing them down was amazing. I wish we had signed richie from swindon for the 200k they paid ,best player in the league by a country mile, 17 goals from a winger and 29 assists ,amazing really.

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FenboyBlue added 09:44 - Mar 23 Have a break, Mick. Have a Kit-Kat. Or a Careless Wispa.
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Pendejo added 10:01 - Mar 23 NZ don't need Smith then?
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Geoff added 10:04 - Mar 23 Come on Evans give MM some money now and let him go out and get some quality on loan before it shuts, we are only five points from the top lets go for it.Two players that is all we need lets show the scum who is the pride of Anglia and leave them in the championship.
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Lightningboy added 10:30 - Mar 23 Would've been a long couple of weeks if we'd lost to Watford..hopefully by the time the Bournemouth game comes around the likes of Hyam,McGoldrick etc will be back or closer to full fitness anyhow. I wonder if the James McClean story will reappear now that we're back in the playoffs?
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RaymondovicBlue added 10:38 - Mar 23 I know folk here say Smith needs a break, but historically, his place in the NZ squad/team had lifted his performances greatly. I believe that I read that they were playing an experimental tan and that he was still in their plans. Clean sheet on Saturday will have given all five at the back a big boost.... Bournemouth MUST be favourites in afraid, but EVEN IF WE LOSE we still got 3 points from Watford which is more than many dared anticipate from those two games at this time!!!! I know we're all bored of saying this..... But if we play just to stop AFCB playing we will be taken apart like everyone else....you should hedge seen them against Middlesborough and wolves the other week... They are class!!! Must play in their half with ball at FEET with Sears and Connolly pace COYB

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Moscow_Blue added 11:06 - Mar 23 From all the games I have seen this season Bournemouth are by far the best we have faced. 2-2 down there was a great result for us. Beating them on Good Friday would really set us up for a run-in.
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dannyrr added 11:13 - Mar 23 Their second penalty at the weekend was a blatant dive. He knew exactly what he was doing and made sure he was in the box before he fell and not sure there was a lot of contact. We will have to watch out for that - the amount of penalties they have been awarded highlights this threat. We don't want to be losing a game through penalties given away. Let's push for a few quick goals and surprise them. COYB

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tractorgrl added 12:52 - Mar 23 Still buzzin! Raymond, according to my calculations we got 6pts off Watford! Coyb
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hazelton added 13:30 - Mar 23 What is wrong with McGoldrick? Is his knee knackered? Has he fallen out with MM? Why did NI include him in their squad? Will we see him again?
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TimmyH added 16:37 - Mar 23 This season after 3 breaks we have won 1 and drawn 2...so make of that what you will but I believe once you start winning you don't need a break and you want to keep playing and this might just take our momentum away. In terms of getting players back from injuries than yes maybe it is a good time.
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warktheline added 16:57 - Mar 23 Very good points, and stats, Timmy. Personally would have preferred to be playing Saturday, with the boys buzzing after taking the sting out of the Hornets. In regards to B'mouth, take a look at their goal difference, that isn't accomplished by luck, penalties or whatever. They are a very good Championship side, with more than enough flair and positivity about them. I feel there could be another McCarthy plan on way!!!!!!

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warktheline added 17:18 - Mar 23 PLEASE NOTE:McCarthy Plan not to be confused with MacArthur Park, where the brilliant Richard Harris fails to replicate past achievements! My apologies to all our younger posters, and the mentally stable!
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Geoff added 18:25 - Mar 23 Green tractorboy must be a budgie.
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britrim added 20:22 - Mar 23 The EADT and Ipswich Star understands that manager Mick McCarthy has been told that he will only be able to bolster his injury hit squad with expensive loan signings if his faltering side can emerge from the next three fixtures — Middlesbrough (a), Bolton (h), Watford (a) — still in the top-six mix.
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