Town will again be without Luke Varney when they face boss Mick McCarthy’s old club Wolves in Saturday’s play-off six-pointer at Molineux, while none of the Blues’ longer term absentees are yet ready to return to action, although Darren Ambrose and Kevin Bru are back in training.

Varney was forced off with a hamstring problem in the first half of the win against Blackpool last Saturday and missed the midweek victory over Cardiff.

“Luke Varney’s still out,” McCarthy confirmed. “Darren Ambrose and Kevin Bru are both training but they’re not ready to go at the intensity that we’ve had to play at for the last 43 games. They’re both training and they’ll be available for the games.

“Nobody else [is back] really. Jonny Parr came through the Cardiff game all right, Stephen Hunt did, but Didz is still injured, Luke Hyam’s still injured, Noel Hunt’s still injured. So there’s no change really on the injury front.”

Town are reminding fans that Saturday’s game is all-ticket match for Blues’ supporters. Tickets can be purchased from Planet Blue until midday tomorrow. Further details on the club site.

The club has already sold 1,200 tickets ahead of Saturday’s game, which kicks off at 12.15pm and is live on Sky.

Meanwhile, former Blues striker Shefki Kuqi has applied for the vacant manager’s job at Portsmouth. Kuqi, 38, is currently boss of Finnish side PK-35 Vantaa.

Photo: Action Images

Paulblue62 added 14:57 - Apr 16 It is a shame that Luke will still be missing as I think he has been great since he came here, but the same side again as Tuesday will do just fine versus Wolves. Think Mick will go a bit more defensive, but I hope not. Tuesday nights performance again please lads and we will be just fine.
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RaymondovicBlue added 15:02 - Apr 16 I'd go with the same team.... But agree that Mick will probably swap Hunt for Tabs to start. No mention of Connolly in the list of injured..... Doesn't he count?
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paulcooperisgod added 15:06 - Apr 16 Gonna be make or break for town Saturday in fact 3 very hard games, will 3 draws be enough cos that's all I can see us getting unless MM goes all out and be positive we need full backs that going to go forward (not CHAMBERS ) we need midfielders thar pass the ball forward and not sideways (TABB) come on big mick we have nothing to lose
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Currie10 added 15:08 - Apr 16 To say we have nothing to lose is not stritctly true? I thought when Tabb and Skuse were central v Bournemouth at home they nulified Bournemouth quite well. Goal out of no where though.....
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Lightningboy added 15:23 - Apr 16 Is Hyam out for the rest of season?
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bostonusablue added 15:24 - Apr 16 Currie10 I do not think we nullified Bournemouth at home; they had a plethora of chances, but were very profligate in front of goal. I'd love to see MM stick with the same team as Cardiff, but use the formation that was so successful against Watford. We need at least a point and if we get it, I think we will make the play-offs.
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CanadianBlue added 15:46 - Apr 16 Good luck to Kuqi with his job application. Perhaps a friendly at Portmouth to welcome him to English management if he gets it?
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Carberry added 15:50 - Apr 16 If ever there was a game that Mick will have the players up for it is this one. Can you imagine the desire he will have to leave Molineux with three points and effectively snuff out their return to the big time. The players will run themselves into the ground and press Wolves at every opportunity. It won't be for the faint hearted - we need to show the strongest character and totally dominate them all over the pitch.

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RaymondovicBlue added 16:41 - Apr 16 I think with the players we have available and in their state of rehabilitation the Cardiff team is about the best we can do ... shame about Varney as I think he will be a good Right Mid for us next year and will be missed. Mick will not want to draw against Wolves - but far less will he want to lose .....i'm not expecting a high scoring free flowing attacking game, but nor am i expecting to be defending for the whole game like our embarrassment at home to Bournemouth LAST Easter. I live in Poole and watch AFCB a bit - they are great and deserve to be Champions - but I think that comparing the HOME games versus them this year and last shows how far we have actually come. YES - we drew both (and the away games too) but who else has failed to be beaten by AFCB ... and who else has seen such an improvement as we have between the two like for like fixtures at the same time of the season? The future is bright - but PLEASE - when the new away kit comes - don't let the future be orange !!!

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TotalBlue added 16:46 - Apr 16 Don't do it Shefki. Would love to see him managing in the UK especially at town but surely its still a poisoned chalice. On the town front win this and Brentford lose that's it were in the playoffs cant see them winning both there games in hand and picking up + 6 GD on us
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Keaneish added 16:52 - Apr 16 Anyone know what our total allocation is?
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blueherts added 18:17 - Apr 16 i WOULD START HUNT - He will be up for this game - was a bit off pace on Tues but back at his old place , I think he could be good for a start ? Got to be on our game as away from home we have not been as sharp of late NO STUPID MISTAKES AT THE BACK - feed sears and he will carve em up
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therein61 added 18:21 - Apr 16 A shame that he is out!! in his last few outings although out of position wide right he has worked his nuts off for the team both up front and trailing back to help the defence, watching his effort you can easily forget that he is a loan player, credit to you Luke you are a genuine footballer who gives his all!!(shame you are 32) your attitude is to be commended and I thank you for that unlike some of the loan signings we have been blessed(or not!!)with in the last few seasons, where ever your future is good luck to you.

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bostonusablue added 19:09 - Apr 16 3 points, Keanish :o)
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jas0999 added 19:35 - Apr 16 Personally. Don't see this as a massive loss. Varney has done okay, but I wouldn't sign him permanently, there must be better options. Can't see Ambrose getting another contract. Nor the Hunt brothers. Stephen was poor on Tuesday.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 20:50 - Apr 16 Hunt was a bit off the pace on Tuesday, but that is to be expected after a longish layoff. When functioning on all cylinders, I think he gives us some positivity that we have been lacking in some (not all) of our recent matches. He would be a valuable asset in any playoffs.
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KiwiBlue2 added 21:29 - Apr 16 Our best strategy against Wolves is to try and hit them early. While we have 3 points on them and Brentford a win here would probably knock Wolves out of the race. I would like to see an attacking side start but suspect that Mick will start with Tabby who of course is 'different class' and possibly Chaplow in midfield with Skuse and Bishop. I would like to see us start Williams and Bishop in midfield with Skuse and Parr.

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blueboy1981 added 22:06 - Apr 16 .......... we really have only one option on Saturday, and that is to go there and attack them from the off - if we go there with the 'preserve the point' mentality, that will essentially spell the end of the 'play off ' possibilities for us. We are totally incapable of sitting back and letting teams come at us, for any length of time without conceding goals. With this team - the best form of defence is attack - if we do that, and fail (which I'm sure we wouldn't) most of us would cope with that knowing we would have given it our best shot. Let's go for the WIN - and nowt else.

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Hegansheroes added 23:06 - Apr 16 Currie10 do you actually watch matches, we were very much 2nd best against Bournemouth & to say Tabb & Skuse nullified them is bizarre
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Green_Army added 01:14 - Apr 17 Lads what's the best pub in Ipswich to watch the game on Saturday, somewhere where there will be town fans?
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Seasider added 15:51 - Apr 17 The Plough next to bus station is pretty popular,or was when I was last there. Must be several other places in Ipswich but live some 30 miles away.
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