Town boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues are down to the bare bones ahead of Saturday’s home game against Blackburn Rovers with Brett Pitman a doubt with a calf problem, but skipper Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Leon Best are all back having missed last week’s FA Cup draw with Lincoln City.

“Pits has got a sore calf and we’ll have to have a look at him tomorrow,” McCarthy said. Myles Kenlock is still injury with his calf, so we’re down to the bare bones again unfortunately.”

Defender Chambers and midfielder Skuse are both set to return after missing last week’s match with knee injuries, while striker Best is over the illness which forced him out of the Imps clash but McCarthy is still without several first team players.

Tommy Smith (back) and Luke Hyam (knee) are both back in training after surgery but are still some way off a return to action, while Teddy Bishop is also still out due to an ankle problem.

David McGoldrick is out for around a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, while Jonny Williams (shoulder) and Giles Coke (knee) are longer term absentees.

With his options up front limited, McCarthy confirmed that 17-year-old Ben Morris will be in the squad.

Photo: TWTD

iaintaylorx added 13:55 - Jan 13 Which is why we need signings in, QUICK!
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Radlett_blue added 13:59 - Jan 13 The McCarthy cliché machine is now into overdrive. Best our one fit senior striker - better ask Owen Coyle if he fancies a game as he usually brings full kit & boots.
3

Taricco_Fan added 13:59 - Jan 13 A cry for help. Get the deals done. We need a couple of new faces.
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positivity added 14:03 - Jan 13 Sears is still fit isn't he? would like us to try 3-5-2 again with chambers back...
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BlueHarwich added 14:07 - Jan 13 why do they continue to quote Giles Coke as still missing, there is more chance of hell freezing over than that waste of space ever contributing anything positive to our club. CUT HIM LOOSE!! The above report and the previous one of 'no signings close' is just more ready made excuses from the our P*ss poor of an excuse of a manager. Can it get any worse?? ( rhetorical)

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alfromcol added 14:13 - Jan 13 I suppose our good bloke will be back at RB and our real RB will either be on the bench or played out of position?
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TrueBlue1998 added 14:13 - Jan 13 Not sure why he's getting so much abuse because every time I've seen Best play I've been impressed, particularly in the Burton game. He hasn't played enough to warrant such a negative verdict surely? And when he did play he wasn't fit anyway. Why not just give him a chance! As for Coke I think he's really meant as aback up player anyway so why are people so obsessed with moaning at him. Probably the same people that would say our squad isn't deep enough if we let him go!

12

muccletonjoe added 14:17 - Jan 13 yawns , scratches head and goes to put kettle on.......
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Penguinblue added 14:19 - Jan 13 We have been down to bare bones management wise for years McCarthy OUT
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martin587 added 14:21 - Jan 13 This is a very sad state of affairs. First of all we are having difficulty in signing players of a good calibra,and now we are told"we are down to the bare bones". What the heck is going on at this club. This situation is now dire and any such news coming out of ITFC is a travesty to the club and is a deterrent to supporters. GET A GRIP AND SORT IT OUT.!
5

HARRY10 added 14:28 - Jan 13 This does expose the nonsense about our academy. Here is the perfect opportunity for younger players to step in - as ready replacements. Yet we don't really have any available, despite Milnes talk of having half the squad by 2017. It is either they are not up to, or that they haven't be given a chance to progress by M through his attitude or his belief that they are not up to it. Doesn't bode well.

7

blueblood66 added 14:32 - Jan 13 1-0 Blackburn then.
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BlueMachines added 14:34 - Jan 13 True Blue. Agree. He was upfront on his own pretty much so with proper up front and balls played into feet he may do alright.
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positivity added 14:58 - Jan 13 harry10, bit unfair on the academy, of the current squad we've got some academy graduates who are up to scratch and ready (kenlock, smith, bishop, hyam, dozzell, emmanuel). that's half a team already, trouble is only the last 2 are fit at the moment! would like to see morris given a chance from the bench tomorrow, can't see any of the others featuring in this game
3

BlueNomad added 15:04 - Jan 13 Yes Penguin, "bare bones managementwise for years"....... 2015-16 - Close to PO's (admittedly a massive disappointment after the previous season) 2014-15 - PO's 2013-14 - 9th 2012-13 - Saved us from oblivion. We may not be happy with MM's performance over the past twelve months but don't let it obscure what went before.
2

braveblue added 15:07 - Jan 13 And whose fault is that Dino?
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Walk_the_Wark added 15:07 - Jan 13 Not gone yet?..... yawn
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whosroundisitanyway added 15:08 - Jan 13 martin587 A good Calibra is hard to find now, they went out of production in 1997! ;0)
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BlueMachines added 15:19 - Jan 13 PragmaticBlue League position, we can't complain about. But the total lack of entertainment over the last 4 years I just can't get over. Against Norwich in the play offs, there was only ever going to be one winner. Norwich. We never set out to beat them, just not to lose. Which why I am growing increasingly frustrated. I believe we have a talented squad. I think with a better manager we would've had an even better record than what MM has managed. I think the flirtation with the play offs were despite MM, not because of him.

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runningout added 15:24 - Jan 13 Spend some good money on Marley Watkins, he counts as two .. Then shove a rocket up rest of squads/teams bottom to wake them up
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TrueBlue1998 added 15:30 - Jan 13 Well put Pragmatic Blue. Amazing job on a shoestring
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Surco72 added 15:34 - Jan 13 Saved us from oblivion .!!!... that's fantastic Pragmatic do you want me to list the teams that have been in the third tier who are all now in a much better position than us ? If MM hadn't been so negative in every season he has managed the final league positions would have been better , and do you notice now that MM is down to his own squad of players rather than the squad taking us to oblivion that he inherited the seasons are getting worse and worse ?

7

Pilgrimblue added 15:41 - Jan 13 This is shocking management by MM/ME. When looking back some seem to be happy with MM performance but for me he should have done much better. Top 6 at January and then lucky to get into playoffs. Again high flying last season but not a penny spent to inprove squad to push for top 2!! Now we're looking at depleted squad and at wrong end of table. Injuries are part of life but MM has gambled and is now paying the price. He should have had two in by now at least. What amazes me is that ME was happy to cash in on Murphy but isn't prepared to reinvest in replacement. For goodness sake spend the money or be honest with us and say there's no more available until summer.

2

Pencilpete added 15:44 - Jan 13 Bottom 3 opposition, who can't score and can't defend ...... so 0-1 defeat without a shot in the entire game and 75 minutes until our first corner it is then !!!!!!
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rickw added 15:46 - Jan 13 __________________Bart Emmanuel__Webster__Berra__Knudsen _____________Skuse___Bru _____Sears_______Ward____Lawrence __________________Best OK I can't see Mick not starting Chambers, but Emmanuel has been our best defender recently and deserves to start ahead of all the others! I think Dozzell maybe best used as an impact player tomorrow - come on for Bru after an hour. Obviously the above players can be used in a 442 but I'd like to see us try to control possession, so 3 in the middle will help that (OK that's probably as likely as Chambers not starting)

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