Boss Mick McCarthy is expecting Ainsley Maitland-Niles to be OK to make the trip to Rotherham on Saturday having limped off during Tuesday's 2-0 home victory over Bolton with a foot injury having scored the first goal, while the Town manager is also hopeful that a groin problem won’t force David McGoldrick out of the game against the bottom-of-the-table Millers.

“Ainsley reported in yesterday for treatment and it had settled down, there was no crack in it, he’s not broken and I’ve seen him this morning and he’s hopeful he’ll be OK for Saturday,” McCarthy said.

“Whatever he did it was something he couldn’t carry on with and he was worried about it, but he’s settling down and he should be OK for selection on Saturday. I hope so anyway.”

He says there are no new injuries, aside from McGoldrick, who felt the effects of an earlier problem this morning.

“Everybody’s fine except Didzy’s just pulled up in training,” he added. “He’d been suffering with a bit of a groin but I thought Brett Pitman deserved his opportunity so I picked him on Tuesday, there was no injury.

“But he had played two games having been out with a groin strain and he’s trained today and he’s just felt it. We’ll wait and see tomorrow, but hopefully he’ll be OK.”

The Blues boss says it’s still too soon for Teddy Bishop to be involved with the 19-year-old’s recovery from hamstring and shin splints problems being taken deliberately slowly.

“Teddy won’t be involved in this,” McCarthy continued. “He’ll wait until after the international break, there’s no point in forcing it now. We haven’t got a game for two weeks, so he’ll be hopefully ready to go then.”

Ryan Fraser (knee) remains sidelined, while Luke Hyam (also knee) and Luke Varney (achilles) are continuing their recoveries and could be involved with the U21s later this month.

Photo: Action Images

hampstead_blue added 14:33 - Nov 5 Cannot wait to get Teddy back. Talk about a tease! MM keeps us on the edge of our sets on that one. Top class Tabby.
2

ArnieM added 15:00 - Nov 5 Didsy injured? Surely not. ....
2

masetheace added 15:15 - Nov 5 Haven't seen McGoldrick stretch his grion - or anything else for that matter - so far this season !!!
0

Pessimistic added 15:29 - Nov 5 Yes, he has to pick Brett Pitman again who was outstanding against Bolton and deserves his place in the side. I have a little inkling that if he plays regularly he could light up are attack in the same way as Freddie Sears last term and together they seem to gel very well!
4

weevil added 15:37 - Nov 5 Rotherham is an absolute golden opportunity to get momentum. We should be beating them comfortably, so I just hope we can get some tractions with another win.
0

rfretwell added 16:18 - Nov 5 Mboro only beat Rotherham 1-0 at him so the same will do us
1

carsey added 16:30 - Nov 5 Hope McCarthy isn't just saying this to keep Rotherham on their toes. We need AMN to be fully fit. He started to show a bit on Tuesday against Bolton before he pulled up - hell he was quicker than most everyone else when he was limping! So far as McGoldrick is concerned I'm not sure he is as important as he once was. Yes he can be good on the ball but he has seemed a little bit lack lustre so far this season. Whatever happens we should be looking to beat Rotherham - they are bottom having conceded 28 goals and town need to be looking for nothing less than 3 points from this one.

0

gazmangaz added 16:30 - Nov 5 Teddy hasn't played for so long he wont be much use for a while ! As for Didzy he reminds me of a certain Darren Anderton from the past who had the nickname sicknote.
0

battyblue added 16:48 - Nov 5 I hate these international breaks keep coming up two weeks without any decent football to watch.
6

sidtheswan added 17:35 - Nov 5 What about Pitman & Sears up front . AMN & Oar out wide . No square pegs in round holes . Simples .
10

therein61 added 18:31 - Nov 5 Golden opportunity for another 3 points(to make another long journey worthwhile!) hope all the boys are fit it's time for this squad of ours to start showing the championship that August and early September was not a false dawn!! oh and by the way Mick don't give us how good Rotherham are at your pre match conference just keep telling our boys how good they are!!
1

RaymondovicBlue added 20:03 - Nov 5 I'd go 4-4-2 if these are all fit (based on form and the need for attack minded but balanced team) Gerken Chambers Smith Berra Parr M-Niles Bru Skuse Oar Sears Pitman that leaves plenty of fire power on the bench - SURELY he will pick 4-3-3 Gerken Chambers Smith Berra Knudsen AMN Skuse Bru Sears Murphy Pitman I guess the trouble with BOTH is that he will end up subbing off PACE for slower players just at the time when pace should be brought on to make a difference? Maybe Oar from the Bench in the 4-3-3 ? But I trust Mick - I agree that our league position SHOULD look a lot better after the next 10 games .... if it doesn't then we will deserve to ask why not!!

1

EssexTractor added 20:38 - Nov 5 This Saturday could be the test for this season. We have secured a victory against a poor team on Tuesday. Now arguably a worse one this Saturday, even if on their pitch. BUT how many times have we started a match with real intensity, with a positivity, with the desire to go for it from whistle one, to be the team in charge? Can we do it? Can those reliant upon Jeff Stelling cry out "hey we'reone up", "no wait it's two already" even before advert one? Those would be the days...to come....⚽️

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls