Full-back Kane Vincent-Young is set to train with the squad for the first time on Monday, and Brett McGavin and Toto Nsiala were both on the Playford Road turf yesterday but James Norwood faces a few weeks out and Keanan Bennetts has also emerged as an injury concern.

Vincent-Young has been sidelined since pre-season with an achilles injury having missed most of last season due to groin problems which required two operations.

The right-back, who made a huge impression in his nine games following his move from Colchester, hasn’t featured in a competitive match since October 2019.

Manager Paul Lambert says the 24-year-old is now making progress and should join in with his team-mates next week.

“Hopefully he’s going to train on Monday,” he said. “He’s doing really well, Kane, I mean really well, and hopefully on Monday we’ll start to see him train with us, which is a great sign because he’s a really good player, he’s not played for a year now, so hopefully on Monday he starts to join in with us.”

Asked to clarify that that will be a proper session alongside the rest of the squad, he added: “Hopefully. That’s the plan for him.

“He’s not done any sessions like that before, not with us, not with the team. He’ll need a few weeks probably, some games under his belt, we’ll try and arrange things for him, but it’s a huge bonus for us.”

Lambert concurred that the Londoner’s return would be a massive boost: “For heaven’s sake, yes, because he is athletic, he’s a really good footballer, so if we can get him back that’s a huge bonus for us.”

Lambert says he anticipates Vincent-Young returning to the first-team line-up before the end of 2020: “Tail end of this one probably, maybe new year.”

Looking elsewhere at his injury-ravaged squad, Lambert is hopeful that McGavin will be OK to return to the team having missed the trip to Oxford due to illness with Andre Dozzell suspended having amassed five bookings.

“He trained yesterday, we’ll have to wait and see but hopefully he’s OK,” Lambert said. “He trained a little bit yesterday so we’ll see how he is.”

The Blues boss said after Tuesday’s game that Jon Nolan had played in that match despite not being 100 per cent fit following his groin injury.

“No, he wasn’t,” he continued. “He felt the effects of from it. But he did well. As I said, we had to throw him in because there was nobody else to play. Hopefully that game’s done him alright.

“He had the little strain against Shrewsbury a couple of weeks ago, so hopefully there are no repercussions so he misses any more.

“I thought he did well in the game considering he hadn’t really done anything for the 10 days.”

Nsiala and Norwood suffered hamstring injuries against Charlton last week with the striker’s problem always expected to be the more serious of the two.

“James will be out for another few weeks,” Lambert said. “Toto trained yesterday. Again, we’ve got to watch, we just can’t really throw them in at the minute just because of the risk factor. But Mark and Woolfy did really well, for two young kids they did really well.”

Lambert also revealed that Bennetts has a hamstring issue, the on-loan Borussia Mönchengladbach having impressed his manager in recent matches.

“I think he’s done well, he’s getting better,” he said. “He’s got a little thing with his hamstring at the minute that we need to look at with him because he’s not played a lot of football prior to coming here, so we have to monitor him. I’ve been really happy with him in the last few games.”

Lambert felt Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Oxford was a decent result and a step in the right direction given the circumstances.

“Considering what’s happening at the minute, without a doubt," he said. "It was a really good point.

“I actually told you a lie when I said we had nine injuries, we had 12, there were 12 injuries out.

“That’s incredible, we have got a really strong team that’s not playing at the minute. We need to get them back. They’ve still not come back at the minute.

“I was talking to Karl Robinson after the game, he said he thought it was a really good time to play us, but I’m pretty sure everyone will be thinking that just because of the injuries we’ve got. But we got a good point.”

In addition to those already mentioned, Town still seem set to be without Cole Skuse, Flynn Downes (both knee), Teddy Bishop (ankle), Emyr Huws (back/hamstring), Tristan Nydam (ankle), Freddie Sears (hamstring), Gwion Edwards (hamstring) and Ben Morris (knee).

The Blues are making the long trip to Devon today on the coach. Asked how he and the squad pass the time, Lambert says the card schools of tradition are largely a thing of the past.

“I'm not sure the guys are old enough to play cards,” he said, before joking. “I think they play Kerplunk, Connect Four and Buckeroo.

“In the modern world I'm pretty sure there are iPads and movies getting thrown around there. You're right. It's a long way, so I watch different things that are on my iPad myself.”

Photo: Matchday Images

belgablue added 09:58 - Dec 4 Great news. Wrap him in cotton wool.
4

oldelsworthyfan added 10:14 - Dec 4 We looked a different team when KVR was playing. Hopefully he will remain fit for the second half of the season God how we miss him!
3

BlueandTruesince82 added 10:15 - Dec 4 That will be thanks to our expert medical team will it?
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jollyroger added 10:28 - Dec 4 well Lambert I surgest you watch how to win on your iPad
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ntoms97 added 10:29 - Dec 4 Why would you say you have less injuries than you've got? Unless they are just "injuries"
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Suffolkboy added 10:39 - Dec 4 Let's get over the miseries ! PL seems a little more communicative than sometimes, and maybe the release of tensions was exactly what was needed . Now we need to see a proper return to cordial harmonious relations , set aside the emotional clap trap , focus on reality and support all at ITFC ; does anyone really think they're actively working against our interests ? The injury list IS horrendous ! –some caused by on the field opposition challenges , and many probably by lack of conditioning in this very strange year . Here and there are very grey areas where certain players appear unusually prone to ‘temporarily ‘ disabling physical weakness , but what is IS ! So let's be positive , which does not mean any lack of objectivity ,or not presenting any critique ; together we won't move forward unless there is the avenue for real and realistic dialogue ,however that's a two way exercise so WE must play our part ! COYB

11

blueoxford added 10:48 - Dec 4 Are the players allowed to read TWTD on their iPads or is that banned? Ps Guys if you're reading this on the bus, just wink....
0

Nobbysnuts added 10:53 - Dec 4 And out for the rest of the season on Tuesday.....
2

Linkboy13 added 10:56 - Dec 4 KVY the only player in our squad who gets you out of your seat and looks like creating anything, sad but true im afraid.
3

ArnieM added 11:46 - Dec 4 Bishop does similar, I'd suggest
2

heathen66 added 11:59 - Dec 4 I wonder what will happen when KVY is match fit I would expect him to be moved into Midfield as Chambers is playing RB at the moment, and I very much doubt Chambers will be dropped...maybe in a 3-4-3 (or 3-6-1) formation. Will be very interesting !!!
0

timkatieadamitfc added 12:34 - Dec 4 Well there is no way Chambers is being dropped so this might FORCE a change of formation to a 3-5-2 which personally think suits us far better, and hopefully perhaps a few shots on target before the 90th minute
1

timkatieadamitfc added 12:35 - Dec 4 GREAT NEWS ON KVY BY THE WAY
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MonkeyAlan added 13:41 - Dec 4 Both liabilities. I think we think KVY is better than he actually is. It's more myth than reality. Norwood has earned good money and been crocked for most of his time here too.
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:08 - Dec 4 good for a couple of games if things go the way they normally do,
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midastouch added 16:52 - Dec 4 I was starting to think we'd sent KVY to the Bermuda Triangle for his rehabilitation.
1

BettyBlue added 17:57 - Dec 4 Norwood, covered in tats but can only okay 10 mins a season
-2

BettyBlue added 17:57 - Dec 4 Norwood, covered in Tatts...... but can only play 10 mins a season
-2

FreddySteady added 18:04 - Dec 4 We really shouldn't just be reliant on someone who's only played 9 games for us, the last one over a year ago.
2

therein61 added 18:38 - Dec 4 Welcome news re KVY lets hope it's the end of his injury problems we have certainly missed him, although that means that the back 4 will be weakened by the skipper who will play come hell or high water into the middle.
2

runningout added 19:39 - Dec 4 We've been missing more than one of our decent players efforts. KVY showed glimpses of good play in only 9 games for us, as said before!! Should be zero pressure to rush back. Plus we know non of our players thrive with our over expectations
0

brian_a_mul added 20:58 - Dec 4 3-5-2, suits Ward better too. Wouldnt suit Edwards though. Downes, Bish & Dozzer would love it with two strikers to play off. Drinan & Jackson would be a good combo.
0

Saxonblue74 added 08:01 - Dec 5 Unbelievable that the imminent return of a very talented player can be spun into a negative by some! Suffolkboy, good comment. Freddysteady, I don't think anyone is suggesting KVY is single handedly going to save our season but it IS positive!
1

johnwarksshorts added 08:22 - Dec 5 I've been supporting Town since I was 9, first match 1968. I can't in all that time remember an injury problem like this. I would argue that the game was far more physical back in the day (remember chopper Jefferson!) and we operated with smaller squads. What's changed...Over training? Less protection to feet with light weight boots? Games got quicker, therefore heavier impacts during tackles? No idea. Thoughts anyone.

1

Saxonblue74 added 08:33 - Dec 5 Johnwarksshorts, my theory is a very simplistic and based upon absolutely no scientific or medical evidence whatsoever! Players didn't train so hard, were not so physically fit and "finely tuned" as they are in the modern game. Running an old Cortina was much more straight forward than anything you'd care to choose today, and far easier to fix when things did go wrong! These guys get taken to the limit, and seems it's a fine line between reaching the peak and falling over the edge!

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