Striker Luke Varney won’t be fit enough to be in the squad for tomorrow’s home game against Burton Albion, but better news is that fellow frontman David McGoldrick is closing in on his return to the first team and will be in the U23s side at Colchester this evening with a view to being involved at Newcastle on Saturday.

Varney, who suffered a hamstring injury playing for the U23s before the international break but returned to first-team action as a sub against Huddersfield, missed out on a place in the 18 at Blackburn on Saturday and manager Mick McCarthy says he won’t be in the squad as the Brewers make their first ever trip to Portman Road.

“He’s just struggling a little bit to get back to that full fitness, so he’s not available,” McCarthy confirmed.

Regarding McGoldrick, the Blues boss is delighted that he will be back in action against the U’s, having ruptured ankle ligaments in the EFL Cup defeat to Stevenage in August.

“That’s great for him personally, first and foremost, to be back and playing in a competitive game, an 11-a-side game on the full pitch,” he added.

“We structured it when he was coming back with us so nobody could tackle him, he’s been wearing a different coloured bib so people don’t tackle him.

“He’s been getting his work-rate on the full pitch so that’s kind of protected him, but then he’s gradually got into the smaller-sided games and he’s been tackling and shooting and withstanding all of that, so now it’s the last step before we can say he’s fully fit and ready for the first-team squad.”

McCarthy says the 28-year-old Ireland international has been pencilled in for the trip to Newcastle at the weekend.

“I’m not suggesting for one minute that if he plays 60 minutes he’s going to play from the start and complete the game at Newcastle, that would be a bit too much to ask,” McCarthy continued.

“But to be involved would be brilliant because we’ve already seen in the training sessions the quality that we all know he’s got. It just reminds us sometimes, it’s lovely to see.”

Another striker, Brett Pitman, is still a little way off a return from the ankle injury he suffered at Leeds.

“He’s off his crutches, so he won’t be fit for Tuesday or Saturday but he’s now walking, he’s just got the protective boot on. He’s going to be another six weeks,” McCarthy said.

Jonny Williams made his return to action and his fourth Town debut as a sub late at Blackburn on Saturday but McCarthy says the on-loan Crystal Palace man isn’t yet ready to start.

Midfielder Luke Hyam (knee) and centre-half Tommy Smith (back) are still recovering from surgery.

Town are running a ticket promotion at the Burton game with season ticket and Silver Card holders able to buy additional tickets for £10.

Photo: TWTD

prebsa added 14:14 - Oct 17 "Jonny Williams made his return to action and his fourth Town debut as a sub late at Blackburn on Saturday but McCarthy says the on-loan Crystal Palace man isn't yet ready to start." Fit or not he wouldn't start anyway. Not when we have "world beaters" and "different class" Skuse and dougie in the middle. Top pros they are, exceptional pairing. All those goals and defence splitting passes they make is unbelievable. Mick Out

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hoppy added 14:16 - Oct 17 So, how come Varney isn't mentioned as being in the Under 23's tonight to work on his fitness a bit more? Seems an ideal one if he's not going to be involved tomorrow.
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PhilTWTD added 14:32 - Oct 17 hoppy He's not in the U23s either. Probably felt the injury after Huddersfield so not ready.
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bluehook added 14:35 - Oct 17 We do love a prolonged injury at PR. At other clubs a player misses one or maybe two games, but at ITFC we go for a minimum of ten weeks and above - with crutches and fock off big boot too We're No.1 at one thing in the Championship.
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prebbs007 added 14:37 - Oct 17 Joniesta not ready to start ?? Here we go again skuglas CM pairing and Ned the donkey at RB. Our goal scoring sensations sears and best upfront v burton. 0-0 is soon going to be odds on for betting sites for all ITFC games. We all know Josh should be RB, Bish Grant & Jonny should be midfield 3 with Ward & Lawrence wide but it won't happen coz dinosaur will pick "good blokes" who are "different class" over good players with creative ability !!!!

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PhilTWTD added 14:39 - Oct 17 hoppy Actually, he played for the U23s in the break so probably felt the injury again then.
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legoman added 14:48 - Oct 17 I just upped the first poster by mistake just to make matters worse. Very boring and tedious posts these days.
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sgtlargent added 14:57 - Oct 17 Can Didzy wear that bib in the league as well, he might even see out October...
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BlueNomad added 15:07 - Oct 17 Same old negative posts by the same old negative people. Prebbs / prebsa et al we know your views. I'm not happy with the way things are but we have news of two of our most talented players nearing fitness and you find a way of turning it into a negative. Cue "idiot" insults coming my way.
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Jimbo75 added 15:23 - Oct 17 most of our talented players nearing full fitness! thats great.. only they wont play apart from the odd sub appearance, so may as well be injured.. so yeah negative by everyone including the dinosaur
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prebbs007 added 15:28 - Oct 17 If views = facts then for the first time ever Pragmatic we will agree. I suspect the number of + marks I get compared you your - marks will be the judge of the fans views of MM and the current situation. It's not being negative, it's merely pointing out the obvious. As has been stated on here before the definition of insanity is to continue to do the same things and expect different results. Our manager is exactly that right now yet all you do is come on here criticise me and back him. That's you're prerogative but don't start dishing my views just coz you don't agree. You're in the minority and continue to show your lack of football knowledge by sticking your head in the sand and hoping it will be all ok. Just like MM.

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Surco72 added 15:32 - Oct 17 Pragmatic how will Williams ever be match fit or ready to start as he doesn't get any game time ? Could have played in the U23s last week for fitness or more than 5 mins on Saturday , but then MM would be forced into dropping Skuse or Douglas before he has got a win with them playing there to say I told you so , he is running out of time though Burton could be last chance

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Jimbo75 added 15:34 - Oct 17 Totally agree Prebbs, fact we have failed to score in more than 51 games in the second tier of English football under Mick is disgrace, thats more than any other Ipswich manager in the clubs history! Don't worry that's not a negative post though..
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BlueNomad added 15:47 - Oct 17 Prebbs I have been going to matches for 50 years now. You have no idea what I know. One of the things that I do have knowledge of is the fact that there are times when things do not go well. This is one of them. Endless criticism from afar achieves nothing.
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parkinshair added 15:58 - Oct 17 What a time to be alive!!
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Bluebell added 16:11 - Oct 17 Perhaps Didzy could wear a different coloured bib against Newcastle so they don't tackle him.
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blue75 added 16:21 - Oct 17 Good to get him back. Hopefully by the time he's match fit we'll have a new manager that will play a better style of football!!
3

sidtheswan added 16:39 - Oct 17 A fully fit Didz,Joniesta and Pitman will make all the difference in our squad and give us some flair and goal potential . On paper apart from losing Murph it's not too bad a squad . This therefore means if we start playing footie and scoring we will be happy. Any problems will then be down to MM whether he chooses to play to their strengths or sticks to negative tactics with square pegs in round holes . Only time will tell . Personally I have been watching footie since 1970 and am not really expecting a lot to change until he leaves . Just like to mention captains, as stated with Rooney and England it's mainly a symbolic role on the pitch so I can't see why we have to play Chambo . We should play the best players in their correct positions and then Berra or Skuse can be captain.Sorted . 0/0 anyone tomorrow ?

5

martin587 added 16:49 - Oct 17 PragmaticBlue, I to have been going for over 50 years,but just how long do we have to wait for things to turn round.Are you not being a little too patient.LOL.!!
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Jimmy86 added 16:53 - Oct 17 Mcgoldrick is one of the biggest sick notes this club has ever had on its books. Yes he's technically good and is probably our best player WHEN fit, but that's the crucial part of the debate, WHEN he is fit, which is less than he's injured. I bet he doesn't last more than 10 games before getting injured again.
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BlueNomad added 17:00 - Oct 17 My patience is being tested but there seems little room for proper discussion with many critics digging in with complete negativity, using "facts" to deride others. An example of this is one individual who has repeatedly claimed "we have the worst two fullbacks in the Championship." They make up half of the second tightest defence in the EFL but are still "the worst" apparently. Our problem is the lack of goals / chances. When you consider who we have out injured or about to come back I expect us to play better. If we don't then we have a big problem. It is too early to criticise MM for everything. And no - I don't have my head in the sand. I am being calm.

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unknown100 added 17:01 - Oct 17 The only player he will rush back and then end up injured for another 12 weeks which in my opinion is no great loss, poor decision maker and only plays for himself Lose Tuesday and get rid of McCarthy!!!
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jas0999 added 17:06 - Oct 17 Perfect opportunity tomorrow to record a home win and against Rotherham later in the month. I'm more interested in how we will cope against the better sides. A win tomorrow would be great, but it won't make up for what has been a disappointing 2016 (since late 2015 in fact).
2

Ferguson added 17:08 - Oct 17 Ok, we've had a lousy run of injuries and a lousy run of results, and to make it worse (no offence to the Albion's Supporters) tomorrow's crowd will probably be our lowest ever in this division. I'm sure Burton will give it a real go. We should beat them - any goal to us will do, own goal, deflection off the ref, shot into the side netting judged to have crossed the line.... But if we lose tomorrow (and I can't see us getting a result at Newcastle) we'll have grounds for genuine concern. Oh well. Follow the town, Up or Down. And everybody calls him Ted.

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martin587 added 17:13 - Oct 17 PragmaticBlue, The best form of defence is attack.This we are unable to do because the players in the team are asked to defend.There is not one player in the side at present who has any vision at all on playing a forward pass.There are and have been players who are not injured who could have come into the side and I'm sure made a difference,do you not agree,or have we got to wait until everybody is fit before MM can make a justified decision.Even then I expect he will still play his tried and tested twosome. Just how long do we have to wait for things to turn round and see players playing in round holes.surely that's not much to ask considering the amount of money us supporters fork out each week and travel the country watching them like I do.!!

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