Top scorer Tom Lawrence is available again after a two-match ban and an ankle injury for Saturday’s home game against Brentford, while his Wales international team-mate Jonny Williams is closing in on his return following shoulder surgery, however, Teddy Bishop won’t be involved against the Bees due to a groin problem.

“Tom’s just had a bit of a problem with his ankle so he’s had to take care of that, but he’s trained today and he’s looked good,” manager Mick McCarthy said regarding 10-goal Lawrence, who has missed the last two games having amassed 10 bookings. “I’m sure he’s desperate to play.”

McCarthy says skipper Luke Chambers, who damaged ribs at Brighton recently, has missed some training but was out there on the training field along with Lawrence today: “Chambo was out but he’s fine, Tom Lawrence is back out. We had a good training session today.”

He says midfielder Bishop won’t be involved on Saturday, although his problem isn’t serious: “He’s just got a bit of a tight groin at the minute, so he’s not available. He may well train on Friday.”

On-loan Crystal Palace man Williams has been out of action since suffering his injury at Wigan in December but isn’t too far away from a return and the 23-year-old has been pencilled in to play in Monday’s U23s game against Bristol City at Playford Road (KO 1pm).

“Jonny Williams is training but he’s not ready yet, he’s going to play in the U23s game on Monday,” McCarthy added.

“He’s trained for the last couple of days and has got a smile on his face, he's pretty happy about himself, he’s feeling a lot better.”

He added: “Once he’s back and injury free, he’ll be ready for selection and we all know what a good player he is.”

The Town boss says central defender Steven Taylor is doing well but won’t be back from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday.

“He’s injured but there’s no chance of him coming back this weekend,” he said. “He’s progressing nicely, I think. He’s quite positive about it.

“It was a real shame for him because I think he probably played a couple of weeks too soon having come here, he could have done with a bit more training and football.

“He did well while he was in the team and he’s been a really good influence around the place, very positive and he’s come to the games. I’ve brought him to the away games with us and I think he’s good to have around for the lads.”

McCarthy says another central defender, Adam Webster, will be over his ankle injury in time to start pre-season with the rest of the squad.

“Yes, he will,” he continued. “When he first injured his ankle there was some suggestion that he might be fit for the last week of the season.

“Well, unless he’s absolutely 100 per cent fit he won’t be involved at all and we’ll take the six or eight weeks they have off and make sure he’s ready for pre-season so we’re starting with a fit Adam Webster.”

McCarthy is pleased that another of his centre-halves, Tommy Smith, and midfielder Luke Hyam both travelled to Norwich last weekend with the New Zealand international making his first appearance since undergoing back surgery in September as a second-half sub.

“Tommy’s back and in the squad and Luke Hyam was in the squad at Norwich, so it was good to have those two back,” McCarthy continued.

The Town boss says on-loan Reading striker Dominic Samuel (broken toe) will be out doing some work on the training ground next week.

Midfielder Giles Coke is set to be released at the end of the season having missed the entire campaign with a knee injury, while McCarthy has said striker Leon Best, who recently underwent a groin operation, won’t play for him again.

Photo: TWTD

ClausThomsen added 14:27 - Mar 1 Bishop's got a groin problem? That's what you get when you bust your nuts!
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12th_Man added 14:28 - Mar 1 Can't see him getting in the team been playing well last 2 games (joke)
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hogster1970 added 14:32 - Mar 1 Can't wait to have him back. Personally I would start leeds dave instead of scuse. And bring in Tommy boy for freddie . Then I can hopefully see us smash some teams with that formation. Esp if kenlock starts. Great to see Tommy getting back to keep chambo berra and Jonas on there toes. Also be good to see hyam back giving scuse and dave some competition
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Bluebell added 14:35 - Mar 1 Great that Lawrence will be back. He could have turned the last two draws into wins if he'd been playing. Not convinced Williams will get straight back into the team though. Two home games now and 6 points available! We need to get those to get safe. COYBs
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carlo88 added 14:59 - Mar 1 Could be a good end to the season, once we're rid of Douglas things will surely pick up.
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markytitfc66 added 15:06 - Mar 1 Carl088 And mcarthy!
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OwainG1992 added 17:01 - Mar 1 God i wish we had say an extra 6/8 points so we could actually have a crack for 6th spot. I hope we can finish top 10 with some good football to be played.
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dugoutdave added 17:07 - Mar 1 re Steven Taylor: “It was a real shame for him because I think he probably played a couple of weeks too soon having come here, he could have done with a bit more training and football. So why the bloody hell did you let him ... manager.. my arse !
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battyblue added 17:08 - Mar 1 good to have him back and also Josh should be back at r/b
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MooseJuice added 17:27 - Mar 1 "Well, unless he's absolutely 100 per cent fit he won't be involved at all and we'll take the six or eight weeks they have off and make sure he's ready for pre-season so WE'RE starting with a fit Adam Webster.” Hmm, I wonder if that 'we' includes himself or not?! It's not really that much fun to think 'What if we'd had Lawrence AND a fit Williams, and we'd have played Chambers in a back three with the kids at wing back, with Dougie nowhere to be seen all season'. Might have actually still been playing for something in March.

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jas0999 added 17:41 - Mar 1 Good news. Lawrence and Bart have really kept us away from the drop zone. Lawrence deserves to be playing. As for Williams, this may be controversial, but unless he is part of our long term plans for next season - which seems unlikely - I'd play someone who is. Williams is so injury prone sadly I don't think he has any future at the club.
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Seasider added 17:43 - Mar 1 I should think Tom Lawrence will be back in the starting line up probably in place of Freddie,who was ineffective on Sunday,despite running around a lot. Would like to see' Dave' back in place of Micks favourite Skusey,so expect to be disappointed,although think Huws plays better with Diagouraga. Also Josh for Spence,who has done ok;but then so has Emmanuel.
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Mark added 17:50 - Mar 1 Williams...I had temporarily forgotten about him! Thinking back, when he was fit for several weeks earlier in the season McCarthy picked Douglas ahead of him. So I am not sure he will be involved much now we have added to our midfield options. Better to play the players who will probably be here next season. I hope Williams has not cost us too much in wages this season, dead money.

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walberblue added 18:18 - Mar 1 What on earth is ITFC doing? Running a recovery program for injury prone no hopers? We've no money but we can afford to pay Coke, Hyam, Bishop, McG, Williams, Best, Varney and Taylor who together have played less than 30 games between them! Release Williams, Coke, Best and Taylor and play players who will be here next year. There's nothing else to play for. And someone ask MM what on earth is going on?

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blueboy1981 added 18:39 - Mar 1 ........ far too many easy sick notes in Football today - some will give everything to play - others find it all too easy to sit it out and still take their rent. Some in the game to play - others for the money, and a reasonably easy life.
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walberblue added 18:42 - Mar 1 and Douglas, release Douglas and get MM to explain what he's doing with "different class". Were the critics right MM?
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planetblue_2011 added 18:42 - Mar 1 Come on Bishop sort yourself out will u!! Wouldn't play Bish at the moment anyway u got Huws & Ward holding their own in the team. Smith & Hyam back, Samuel on his way back & Jonny boy who I forgot about is coming back the squad is looking impressive, just a bit late in the day to get excited about a top 6 spot. Forgot about Coke as well, to be honest it was always on the cards him leaving. Does Mick start with Smith & Lawrence at the weekend!! Where is Pitman? Are his days numbered, he never seems to get a run in the team no more. It's a shame think he's a good goal scorer.

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bohslegend added 18:49 - Mar 1 Again. On almost zero budget, MM has brought in all the players mentioned above as important and the ones who've been injured too. That's the gamble when you haven't a pot to pi$$ in. I think even the critics have to acknowledge that. Lawrence, Dave, Webster, Williams, Spence, Taylor, Moore, and even some of the others such as Knudsen who finds it hard to get any credit from fans. That's the Bargain Basement we're shopping in. If we had serious funds like most of the teams above us we could be more choosy when it comes to players injury records. I think when fit these are all good additions regardless of cost.

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blueboy1981 added 18:59 - Mar 1 ....... more excuses from bohs' ........ McCarthy is NOT the only Manager who exists around a small budget and succeed -many of whom have proved beyond doubt that it is entirely possible to do so. That's the acid test of being a true, competent Manager. All too easy to have a Cheque Book - and succeed OR fail - as some have, and do.
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Ipswichbusiness added 20:00 - Mar 1 I hope that we can design a system that includes both Williams and Bishop as when fit and on form they are superb creative players. I understand what posters above say about Williams' injury record, but hopefully we could get him cheap as a result and I really believe that he could do a fantastic job for us.
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bohslegend added 20:33 - Mar 1 go on blueboy, your chance to shine, which the genuine contenders this year in our league have less to spend than we do?
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Pip50 added 20:52 - Mar 1 Bob what's that got to do with things. Frankly Mick is so incompetent better he doesn't spend anything. A succession of players like Coke, inept tactics and bazaar selection. A few draws won't hopefully save him. Now he is saying he will review things at the end of the season laughable. We are still in danger of slipping into the bottom three, we have rode our luck recently and played absolute sh@t football. He has got to go. Marcus can then invest in someone who knows what they are doing not this has been!

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bohslegend added 20:59 - Mar 1 Pop I don't understand the point you're trying to make?? So, he's to blame for players like Coke and Toure. But he gets no credit for players like Webster, Ward, Dave, Williams, Lawrence, Huws??? How does that work?
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Swn98 added 21:32 - Mar 1 Pip50 I can rattle out some rubbish but your post tops me.
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ArnieM added 22:32 - Mar 1 Personally I think I'd make Lawrence sit on the bench Sat. He's got to learn to keep his big trap shut, and that he is not bigger than this Club/ team.
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