Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll field as strong a side as he can when Vanarama National League leaders Lincoln City visit Portman Road in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, but has injury concerns regarding skipper Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Myles Kenlock and has confirmed that Dean Gerken will start in goal rather than first-choice Bartosz Bialkowski.

“My captain Chambo has got a bit of swelling on his knee, so we’ll have to see how he is,” McCarthy said. “Skusey likewise has got a swelling on his knee and he’s going for a scan this afternoon.

“Hopefully it won’t flag up anything serious, nevertheless swollen knees on a Thursday before a cup tie is not what I’d really want.

“Myles Kenlock’s a doubt with his calf. He’s done great, I’ve been delighted with him and but for his injury on Monday at Queens Park Rangers he wouldn’t have come off.”

Having named weakened teams for cup matches in the past, McCarthy says he’s not going to go down that route on Saturday.

“It’ll be as strong as I can make it,” he said. “Gerks will play in goal but that’s hardly weakening it with Dean Gerken in, he’s a first-team goalkeeper. And the rest will be as strong as I can make it.”

He says he may include one or two younger players, perhaps striker Ben Morris, among the subs: “Possibly on Saturday. But it’ll be as strong as I can make it.”

Regarding his longer-term injuries he says Luke Hyam and Tommy Smith are closing in on returns having undergone knee and back surgery respectively, along with Teddy Bishop, who has had an ankle problem.

“Luke should be back in February, hopefully having games in the U23s by then, along with Tommy Smith and Teddy Bishop,” he said.

Paul Digby is fit again and back in training after a knee injury, but Giles Coke, who has been out all season, remains on the sidelines.

“Giles has really struggled with his knee this year, he’s had a lot of treatment on it and has had a couple of ops on it, so he’s just fighting his way back, he’s having a tough time of it,” he added.

Loanee Jonny Williams also remains sidelined having undergone shoulder surgery and isn't due back until March.

Photo: TWTD

SheptonMalletBlue added 17:58 - Jan 5 Oh well, that's it for Bart!! If Gerken as a half decent game McCarthy will keep him in the side.
7

blue75 added 18:12 - Jan 5 Talk is cheap as we well know, his taking it seriously might be like he's going to play attractive entertaining football!!!!
1

Keaneish added 18:17 - Jan 5 You're naming a strong side because... A - you know the season is over and its only January so the FA cup is the last chance to save some face on this terrible season? B - the fans lambasted you last season for fielding an under strength team and devaluing a good competition and you'd do that agin at your peril? C - the fans actually do know something and you should always field a strong side no matter who the opposition? Either way, the ramifications of the previous cup competition policy are still being discussed several years on, which makes you look a little bit silly still. Hands up, you were wrong. No need to apologise...or may be there is from time to time.

6

heathen66 added 18:27 - Jan 5 Mmmm...Skusey and Chambo have injured knees, must have knocked them on the bumbers of Micks car when they were polishing it yesterday. It is a shame Kenlock cannot play and cement hi position. You cannot blame Mick for bigging up Gerken...he could hardly recall him and then say 'actually you are not as good as Bialkowski but we will take a chance'. As long as we actually do try to win it e.g. McGoldrick, Pitman, Lawrence, Bru and at least try to take the game to them then you cannot ask any more.

2

markytitfc66 added 18:39 - Jan 5 Strange that "chambo and skusey" are never a doubt for league games. Injured my ssme!
7

Bert added 18:43 - Jan 5 Pleased for Gerken and so will Bart be. In all probability Evans has probably made it clear that we need a cup run for all sorts of reasons. The players must respond and remove any notion that Lincoln are a non league team. If we play it as a cup game it could yet be a decent game. I'm going as boycotting it is pointless regarding any issues we may have with MM.
2

NoelTheDub added 18:49 - Jan 5 Douglas first name on team sheet for sure.Its terrible that the only way to get rid of this man is hoping they do us on saturday very sad if thats were we are at our club.
3

Bergholtblue added 19:20 - Jan 5 Lincoln flying high in Conference, bringing a huge fan base, 4-5k fans. I think MM is bricking it! Anything less than a strong side and it will be a walkover for Lincoln.
2

Brownie added 20:16 - Jan 5 Have to say I would play Gerken - needs game time if Bart gets injured. I don't personally think Gerken is that bad a keeper he is just not as good as Bart! Expect changes but they need to be positive. Not players who we will never see again - Digby for example- and we need to try and win the game! I never want us to lose a game and don't subscribe to the view that it would be a blessing as MM would get sacked. It wouldn't be a blessing & he wouldn't get sacked anyway. The only person at the club more stubborn than the manager is the owner! COYB!

1

floridaboy added 20:20 - Jan 5 Saturday night press conference: "That was the strongest team available but credit to Lincoln they played well and are in the wrong league. I would have taken the draw but we move onto the next game and maybe a bit of good fortune"
5

corkblue added 20:40 - Jan 5 A trip back to Lincoln is my best bet!
2

woohoo added 20:41 - Jan 5 Wish I could be interested in this game - but I really can't be...
1

Gazelle added 20:45 - Jan 5 If the Manager named a weak side he'd be castigated, Names a strong side and he's still criticised, some strange opinions on here. Anyway, we'll win alright, Lincoln lost to Guiseley the bottom team last week and I watched them on the box against Oldham, they're not that good.
-1

Westy added 21:14 - Jan 5 The 'strongest team' and the 'strongest team possible' are different things. Already we are compromised by not playing our No. 1 goalkeeper. Frankly I will believe it when I see it as in the past he has shown disregard for the FA Cup, the fans and the Club's reputation in this regard.
7

thebeat added 21:32 - Jan 5 He's come out with this for one reaon and one reason only.......to try and sell tickets! The club arent answering on twitter when people ask how many tickets have sold, its because Lincoln have easily outsold us. He's been told to say he's playing a strong team in the hope it will change some minds. Well its not changing mine, if you love the club stay away, money or lack of it is the only thing Evans will take notice of.

6

Bobby_Petta added 22:07 - Jan 5 I expect Chambers is on his way, lets hope Ex Skuse goes to.
3

itfchorry added 23:01 - Jan 5 Now nothing more than embarrassing how he is clinging on - Be good to have 4,000 Lincoln fans singing Your getting sacked in the morning - When will this nightmare end ?
3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:52 - Jan 6 itfchorry: On the contrary, I think it will be embarrassing to hear 4000 Lincoln fans singing, "What's it like to see a crowd?" Where do all these fans from small clubs come from on occasions like this? I can't imagine the average Lincoln away following is normally more than a couple of hundred. PR looks terrible on TV these days, with huge areas of the Cobbold and Sir Alf empty blue seats. Can't see this changing under the present circumstances. Sad times. COYB!

2

TractorRoyNo1 added 08:49 - Jan 6 Chambers on his way, so doesn't want to be cup tied
1

TR11BLU added 10:52 - Jan 6 Cannot believe anything Dino comes out with. Will believe it at 2 tomorrow when the team is announced. Dino out
2

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