Loan flop Mark Fish has returned to Charlton Athletic to work on his fitness. The badly-out-of-sorts central defender was replaced at half-time during Town's 2-1 defeat at QPR on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old remains registered to the Blues but will not be used on Saturday when Town travel to Leicester City.

Boss Joe Royle's defensive ranks have been decimated by injury with Jason De Vos cracking ribs, Aidan Collins suffering a knee injury and Gerard Nash still not OK after an operation.

Chris Casement, 17, is not considered ready for first team football having started only one competitive reserve team game.

Royle says he has been looking for another loanee: "I spent some time on the phone yesterday and asked about three defenders, but on each occasion the answer was no.

"It is proving very hard to find players and it has been this way for a while.

"We are still waiting and hoping, but unless something happens to surprise me, I don't see the situation changing before the weekend."

With no additions to the squad, Town's defence at the Walkers Stadium will consist of the four players who finished the game at Loftus Road, with Sito at right-back, Matt Richards on the left and Fabian Wilnis in the centre of the defence with Richard Naylor.

De Vos could be back in action in around two weeks, although he may be out of action for up to a month.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls