Keeper Dean Gerken is fine to return to the squad for Saturday’s home game against Bristol City but midfielder Giles Coke will miss out, manager Mick McCarthy has revealed.

Gerken, a former Robins player, suffered a groin injury when he took a kick from Clayton Donaldson when clearing ahead of the Birmingham striker during last Friday’s 1-1 draw at Portman Road and wasn’t in the 18 at Manchester United on Wednesday, but McCarthy says he is now fully fit.

“Dean’s fine, he just stayed back, he had to deal with that back pass last week and he got a kick on his knee, I think, but his groin was sore,” he said.

“But Bart was always playing at Manchester United anyway. He’s fine, he trained brilliantly today.

“Everyone else is fine, except for Giles Coke who, sadly for him, because I thought he did well on Wednesday night along with everybody else, has just got a sore achilles from the game, so he’ll be missing from the squad tomorrow.”

McCarthy says the Blues are being careful with Teddy Bishop who is says is still a while away from a return after suffering from hamstring and shin splint problems in the last couple of months.

“We’ll make sure he’s fit when he comes back,” he added. “We’re just giving him a longer rehab than necessary but hopefully it’ll prove to be the right thing to do come the rest of the season.

“We’ve got a lot of games to play and it would be nice to have him fully back. We’ve got Luke Hyam probably coming back in November, it might be the end of November.

“And we’ve got Luke Varney. not our player but we’ll discuss that, so we might have some fresh legs coming back and they’ll be great players along with Bish if that was the case.”

Hyam underwent knee surgery in the summer, while former loanee Varney, who is now a free agent but undergoing his rehab with the Blues, ruptured an achilles during the play-offs at the end of last season.

Town are staging a promotion at Saturday’s game with season ticket holders able to buy a further four tickets for £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £3 for juniors.

Photo: Action Images

gippeswyk added 13:54 - Sep 25 Glad for Gerks that his injury wasn't serious but I can't help feeling that Bart won't be picked for tomorrow in that case. Shame.
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hoppy added 14:03 - Sep 25 I've seen a few comments from Mick regarding Luke Varney where he's referring to him as coming back at some point, or offering him a deal when he's fit again... I'm not quite sure where he fits in, with the squad we have now - who's he going to be vying with for a place?
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BlueMachines added 14:09 - Sep 25 hoppy, lets not forget Fraser isn't ours and nor is AMN so I would imagine Varney might be useful for the right wing, even if it is only for cover this season, it may be different next. But who knows, after a serious injury some players just don't make it back and Varney is no spring chicken. time will tell I guess. Fingers crossed Bart steps back into the league starting 11, in my opinion the better keeper of the 2.

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rinkydinkpanther added 14:28 - Sep 25 Oh no! No Giles Coke?!!
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jas0999 added 14:57 - Sep 25 For me, it should be a given that Bart starts. Gerken isn't as good in my opinion. As for Giles Coke, well I still have no idea why we signed him. Similar to Douglas and Skuse, but not as good. When fit Hyam would be above him too!
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wkj added 14:59 - Sep 25 Not that MM really has to justify his decisions to the fans, I just would love for him to sit down and explain why he favours Gerken over Bart- who for me looks a lot better goalie on Wednesday than any of Gerken's displays this season. Certainly he has not said definitively Gerkens starting on Saturday; but I don't think there will be may surpised when he does. As for coke, He played much better vs Man U than Douglas has against anyone and went up man points in my book after that - I think it's a shame he is out as he is surely deserving of game time in the league now over Douglas.

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Jcarrell1 added 15:07 - Sep 25 I wouldn't see it a problem Varney coming in. He isn't better than what we have but for cover i would welcome him. I fully hope Bart gets the start. Much better than Gerken and seems to make a few less mistakes. Looking forward to seeing Hyam come back in November! Hopefully we can grab a couple of goals tomorrow. Would be good to see Murphy score. Once he scores his first i think he will kick on again. Up the Town. 3 points tomorrow please and Thank you.

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Len_Brennan added 15:21 - Sep 25 Douglas is better than Coke in my book and I'd assume that Coke would not have been signed had Mick already brought Douglas in. While Douglas has not been consistent, he will have more good games than bad & when he is good, as he was for most of last season, he can be an asset. I just don't see that with Coke who just seems to be a presence in the middle of the park. With Bru back fit & Bishop on the cusp I would expect that both Douglas & Coke will see their involvement dropping to 'introduced from the bench to shore thing up late on'. I'd also agree with Jas, that Hyam should move ahead of them in the pecking order also when back fit. As for the goalkeeping situation, Bart is clearly a better keeper than Gerken.

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yorksblue added 15:36 - Sep 25 Pardon me for questioning you, MM, but Coke was pants on Wed.
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hoppy added 15:47 - Sep 25 To go from playing at Old Trafford, to have to miss out on Saturday I would think Coke probably feels a bit flat...
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GoldieBlue added 15:48 - Sep 25 Bart has to start over gerks. Also getting fed up of the comment we have 2 average championship keepers. Bart is a good championship keeper. Gerks is a very poor one. Simple
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Len_Brennan added 16:16 - Sep 25 Bart Parr, Malarcyzk, Berra, Knudsen Maitland-Niles, Bru, Skuse, Fraser Sears, Murphy Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Toure, Douglas, McGoldrick, Pitman.
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Marcus added 16:39 - Sep 25 While it was Coke Zero on Wednesday he could still have more bubbles.
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thebeat added 17:15 - Sep 25 I agree with Hoppy on Varney, how would he get anywhere near the team. All 4 strikers are miles better and we have 3 quality wingers in Fraser, AMN and Toure and im sure Oar will prove to be a good signing. Thats 8 players ahead of him in the queue. Itll just be a waste of a wage that we could use somewhere else. Its not a case of looking after him just cus he's a good lad is it?

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therein61 added 18:00 - Sep 25 If Mick continues to favour an unbalanced back four which he seems hell bent on doing then at least put Bart in goal as Gerken does not inspire confidence through his lack of communication(until he lets one in then he is extremely vocal!!)while pleased that he is over his injury he is not the keeper to get us promoted.
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battyblue added 06:12 - Sep 26 Agree Len Brennan except for Murphy would pick Pitman in that spot.
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battyblue added 06:15 - Sep 26 Send Gerken out on loan promote Crowe if we are not allowed to sign/loan another another keeper.
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Jimmy86 added 07:58 - Sep 26 For some reason Mick does tend to favour Gerken, despite it being evident to many on the terraces on match day that Bart is the keeper. Prior to his compassionate leave Bart was playing really well and was in good form. His performance in the weds and Burnley games were top notch, claiming crosses and set plays and taking pressure off the back 4. Gerken played ok against Brum and although Chambo nearly stitched him up with the back header, it meant he had to actually come off his line to clear, not a bad thing perhaps!! Gerken was poor against Brighton and Reading, 3rd goal especially and how anyone can blame skuse for that is laughable. Bart in goal for me, but Mick seems to like Gerken

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battyblue added 14:32 - Sep 26 Theirs no contest in ability Barts wins hands down so how about picking the best team on ability and not on happy families.
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