Blues manager Paul Lambert says the situation with midfielder Flynn Downes is “the same as it was” and that he doesn't know whether the 21-year-old, who was again left out of the 18, wanted to play in today's match against Wigan.

Downes, who joined the subs for the warm-down after the game, was recently the subject of transfer interest from Crystal Palace - they made rejected bids of £1.2 million and £1.6 million - and subsequently handed in a transfer request.

The former England U20 international was given a few days off last weekend to clear his head but wasn’t involved in either the EFL Trophy tie against Arsenal’s U21s on Tuesday or today’s 2-0 victory over the Latics.

“It’s the same as it was, the guys have done great,” Lambert said when quizzed about Downes’s absence. "What happened last year is finished, you have to perform this year.

"The kid’s brain was fried by the Palace thing and that ain’t ever going to happen until Marcus Evans says there’s a really good bid there. I would drive Flynn myself because the guy’s done great for me, he’s done absolutely brilliant.

"The kid’s head is all over the place, he’s training. The guys at the minute are playing fabulously well. I don’t know what will happen with Flynn, whether he goes or whether he stays, I really don’t know.

“As I said before, I think he’s been badly advised on a lot of things, it’s not his fault. My job is his welfare, which was why I let him away for a few days. He’s training but that’s where it is.”

Did he want to play in the game today? How did he take your decision not to include him in the 18? “I don’t know, I don’t know if he wanted to play. I don’t know, to be honest with you.”

Is Lambert’s gut feeling that Downes will play for the club again or is his departure now inevitable? “It’s only inevitable when the buying club and the selling club agree. As I said, the guy’s done great for me but unless Marcus Evans says yes or no, you can’t do anything. I don’t know.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:01 - Sep 13 I don't really see what PL has done wrong in all of this. He has given a strong hint that someone, presumably his agent, has given Flynn bad advice. Lambert has supported Flynn, not slagged him off, by saying he had been "brilliant." Finally, he has clearly stated that the decision to sell rests with Marcus and it won't happen until Palarse step up with the right kind of money. PL realised that this whole situation has thrown Flynn into a turmoil, so he gave him time off to gain some perspective, with the added benefit that the rest of the team would not be drawn in to the discussion. All in all, I would say that this was pretty good man management. How Flynn now reacts will show what kind of a person he is.

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pazzy added 18:28 - Sep 13 we are paying his wages get on with it until we get realistic money for him
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 18:30 - Sep 13 Man. I wish I could say I don't feel like going to work today and expecting my employer to keep paying me regardless. The longer this drags on, the less I'm liking Downes. Another young footballer teased with the bright lights on higher tiered football causing them to immediately turn their back on their parent clubs and sulking. Get him off the payroll and replace him with someone who wants to play.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:34 - Sep 13 Send him out on loan to Bsrrow / Torquay
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RobsonWark added 18:39 - Sep 13 prebbs007 added 16:06 - Sep 13 "Surely as the manager of the team it's your job to know a) who's available and b) pick the best team. So unless Evans tells you not to select him becoz we're selling him then you pick him. You are making yourself look even more of a muppet than normal if you don't even know who to pick from." Why should he be in the team if the other midfielders are playing well? He should have no guaranteed place in the team as no other player in the team should either. Let him rot in the U23's if the other midfielders are playing well - it's his own fault for refusing to play as I'm sure he would have been in the 11 starting against Bristol Rovers. He was more than happy to sign a CONTRACT with us remember!

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therein61 added 18:40 - Sep 13 He's under contract(worthless i know as players and Mr 10% hold the power) and a Town player we have invested a lot of money in him over the years he has to get his act together and ignore his agent and put his heart and soul into the club that pays him, if he's being told not to play by his agent then fine him and leave him out totally either way the young man is no good to our club, congrats Marcus for once not being taken for a ride(so far) over a players valuation.

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SheptonMalletBlue added 18:45 - Sep 13 Pathetic, weak snowflakes most players today!
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Beattiesballbag added 18:58 - Sep 13 BlueSwede, has just about summed it up the best on here, It's Palace & Downes agent who have created this. The club don't want to sell him unless it is for a reasonable offer & Palace are taking the piss, so why should we be bullied into selling him for less just because an agent tells Flynn the club will have to agree to let him go if he asks for it. It would not be right to play a player who wants to leave infront of others so until he takes himself off the transfer list Lambert can only assume he doesn't want to play for the club & wether you like ME or not I would rather see him take this stance than give in to a low life agent who has bent the boys ear......If you give in to this tacktick other players, clubs & agents will know we are a soft touch. So unless we get a reasonable offer, I think it's fair to expect we won't see him play unless he takes himself of the transfer list.

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delias_cheesy_flaps added 18:58 - Sep 13 Unless we've stopped paying Downes his wages then he should be played, footballers really are a law unto themselves....what a firkin joke!
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Beattiesballbag added 19:00 - Sep 13 off the transfer list.
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RobsonWark added 19:44 - Sep 13 delias_cheesy_flaps added 18:58 - Sep 13 "Unless we've stopped paying Downes his wages then he should be played, footballers really are a law unto themselves....what a firkin joke!" Why should we play him if he doesn't want to play? Let him ROT in the U23's! Players contracts are complicated. He probably gets a wage for being a player then bonus for being in the team on match day then bonus for scoring a goal etc., etc.

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December1963 added 20:09 - Sep 13 If you ever thought football is on a different planet to the rest of us here's your proof. Think I'll go into work tomorrow and say to my boss thanks for paying my wages this week but I really can't be bothered,think his second word might be off.
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Linkboy13 added 20:21 - Sep 13 Don't know if Palace are a bigger club than us, but the facts are they are in the premier league, pay bigger wages and a far better proposition than us, and to say we have a bigger fan base is also wide of the mark.
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ringwoodblue added 21:02 - Sep 13 What a bizarre situation. Don't think Lambo will play Downes until the end of transfer window assuming he doesn't leave before then. If the current midfield stop performing or get injured, I think Skuse is more likely to be picked ahead of Flynn. Really hope he stays as we need his quality to get out of this league.
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Umros added 21:43 - Sep 13 Yeah, not sure if I fancy work tomorrow .......but difference is I wouldn't get paid! Get rid ASAP should not have players just doing what they want - ridiculous
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Lightningboy added 22:40 - Sep 13 We'll certainly miss Flyn's goals from midfield this season..how many did he get at this level last year? 8? 9? 10?....think it was 1..maybe even zero? If we can get £2M plus a decent sell on clause then sell..to not want to play for your home town club is disgraceful..we have plenty of able replacements who probably DO want to play for our club. Kids today 🙄
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Taricco_Fan added 22:42 - Sep 13 Sounds like Downes is in the process of burning his bridges with the club. That's the risk associated with a transfer request. Clearly, his head has been turned but I'm not convinced Palace will meet Town's valuation. Their derisory offers suggest they see Downes as a bit of punt. I think he is being very badly advised. Let him sit it out. As good a player as he is, we're not exactly short of decent midfield options. We don't need anyone who wants to be elsewhere.

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bobble added 06:30 - Sep 14 which i could just choose not to work for my pay.....
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BlueBlood90 added 10:20 - Sep 14 I personally don't even want him here anymore. The lack of loyalty and disrespect by him to a club that has nurtured him for so many years to help him become a professional footballer is absolutely staggering. If they had offered £3m - £4m then he may have had a point but it was a p*ss take offer by a Premier League club trying to take advantage of lower league clubs because of Coronavirus.

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Razor added 10:31 - Sep 14 If he does not want to be here get rid----simple.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 10:50 - Sep 14 I don't blame lambert at all here the players gone into a sulk and that's that! If it wasn't for the club investing in his future he wouldn't even be getting looked at by clubs. Fair enough if he wants to move at some point but he should have the respect to realise we as a club have put him there.
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Wooly74 added 19:30 - Sep 14 I've been told by a very good source that Downes told Lambert to stick it when he was asked to play. This doesn't surprise me, his general attitude stinks and as far as I am concerned stick him training with the U23 team. Until Palace gives a realistic price in today's market he shouldn't be given the option to go anywhere!
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Sir_Monte_Carlo added 21:02 - Sep 14 Hi boss, na I don't think I want to work this week, I've got all excited about another club maybe sniffing around. You'll still pay me though, right?
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afcfee added 09:32 - Sep 15 We should of been sterner to begin with said no unless value is met you will be playing here unless want to ruin your own development and value.
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