Town centre-half Christophe Berra is facing four weeks out having suffered a hamstring injury in training earlier in the week, manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed.

“Christophe Berra is missing, as he was the other night [at Doncaster]. He was down to play for half a game along with Tommy Smith but he did his hamstring on Monday, so it’s going to be about four weeks before he’s back,” McCarthy said.

“We’ll look at whether he'll miss the games after the international break. Thankfully the break is coming at the right time for all of us who have had six games already and are making it seven on Saturday.

“It’s strange for Christophe, it’s the first time he’s ever had one, it’s a real surprise. But he will miss Saturday and he probably will miss the first game back.”

Josh Emmanuel looks set to be at right-back with skipper Luke Chambers moving into the centre alongside Tommy Smith. New addition Piotr Malarczyk’s signing won’t be completed in time for him to be involved.

Striker Daryl Murphy (calf) and midfielders Kevin Bru and Teddy Bishop (both hamstring) are also sidelined until after the international break, while Jonny Parr is not yet ready to return to the squad after his thigh problem and Luke Hyam is a long-term absentee having undergone knee surgery in the summer.

Keeper Bartosz Bialkowski is back with the squad having been in Poland following his father’s death last weekend and McCarthy confirmed that he would be in the squad and considered for selection.

Berra and Murphy are both ruled out of international action with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland respectively.

Photo: Action Images

JackSted added 13:59 - Aug 28 oh............ that escalated quickly.
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thebeat added 14:01 - Aug 28 Bugger! Had to be him didnt it?
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obj124 added 14:02 - Aug 28 Looks as though Emmanuel will be getting another league game this weekend: Bialkowski Knudsen Smith Chambers Emmanuel Skuse Douglas Mcgoldrick Fraser Pitman Sears
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MaySixth added 14:02 - Aug 28 We just need to get on with it. Injuries are part and parcel of the game. Good timing in a way with the international break. Huge oportunity for Josh Emmanuel.
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Len_Brennan added 14:03 - Aug 28 Great player so he'll be a loss, but Chambers/Smith is a good partnership & will see both playing in their preferred position.
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Nazemariner added 14:03 - Aug 28 Step forward Josh Yorwerth. He was excellent against Doncaster.
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KuqiCoup added 14:04 - Aug 28 Agreed. It's a big blow but you have Smith, who seems in great form at the moment on his stronger side now. Plus Chambers is a great centre back and Emmanuel looks a real find. We could be okay.
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Mullet added 14:04 - Aug 28 Could be worse with the break coming up. Good thing Tommy and Emmanuel can step up in the mean time.
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LongLegs added 14:04 - Aug 28 Massive opportunity for one of the youngsters
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SamWhiteUK added 14:05 - Aug 28 Huge opportunity but also a huge test for Josh Emmanuel, up against old Lua Lua
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commuterblue added 14:07 - Aug 28 so the Dunne link makes sense now..
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TractorCam added 14:08 - Aug 28 Big game for Emmanuel then
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tractordownsouth added 14:09 - Aug 28 SamWhite, Emmanuel coped with Jota well, so he is capable but I agree it will be tough
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RonFearonsHair added 14:14 - Aug 28 Would have been concerned last season but we have some excellent cover now.
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ITFCforlife added 14:17 - Aug 28 People were saying Chambers is too slow to cope with LuaLua, if Emmanuel is given support like he was v Brentford I think he'll be fine
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StowTractorBoy added 14:23 - Aug 28 A great shame but I don't think he has looked as sharp as he was last season. He had a long summer with the Euros then back for training with hardly a break in between. Will be a big miss but at least the balance of the back four will be right.
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jert16 added 14:24 - Aug 28 Not disastrous but still a massive blow, our best defender by far! Get well soon cristophe!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:29 - Aug 28 B*ll*c*s
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christiand added 14:30 - Aug 28 Make no mistake Berra is a huge loss, but I really like the look of Emmanuel at right back and now this news gives him another opportunity of first team football and provides that natural balance for our back four.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:36 - Aug 28 Agreed if it were to happen let be now with the break at least that minimises the damage. Hammys can put you out for longer than you think so no rushing him back
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battyblue added 14:43 - Aug 28 most of our injuries are acquired in training it seems,,but more confident with Josh at right back than cambo to be honest come on lads Three more points in the bag .
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commuterblue added 14:54 - Aug 28 The new defenders have been impressive. But Yorweth, Emmanuel and the new Polish are new and / or relatively unproven over a period of time. If something happened to Smith/Chambers we look very inexperienced at the back. Someone like a Dunne, on a short term deal would be useful. Just as with Paddy Kenny last year.
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Blueray added 15:00 - Aug 28 Agree with last....experience that Dunne could bring can only be beneficial. I'll probably get shouted down, but a draw tomorrow wouldn't be all that bad...just need to keep this unbeaten run going and make teams fear/respect us...
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LongLegs added 15:06 - Aug 28 Shows that we are progressing, if this was last season and we were without berra and murph we would be sh*tting it but our squad has much more depth to replace injuries this year and still give us a great chance of winning.
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warktheline added 15:14 - Aug 28 Personally have no problem with Chambers/Smith combination. Both will play on their strongest foot! Strangely enough its up top that inspires me, we have some top talent, something for the opposition to really worry about. Unlike McCarthy's previous starting 11's, where we played on our back foot, looking for a set piece goal or a touch of inspiration from Murphy of McGoldrick, this season we look more dynamic, and let's not forget, we still have young Bishop to return....wow!

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