The Blues will again be without midfielder Jimmy Bullard when they face Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Wednesday with the 33-year-old still not entirely over his virus. Central defender Damien Delaney and midfielder Lee Bowyer are also set to miss out, while new loan keeper Alex McCarthy will start.

Manager Paul Jewell said: “Jimmy’s not very good, shame on some people who were sniggering that he had a ‘New Year’s illness’. He’s been very ill Jimmy, very ill.

“He came in on Sunday and was sent straight home. He tried to try and do some running but it was no good. He’s been very ill, it’s wiped him out completely and he’s been worried. He won’t be considered for Wednesday. It’s a nasty virus.”

Bowyer seems likely to miss the next two or three games: “Lee’s torn his abductor, he can’t do anything at the minute, so I think he’ll be at least a couple of weeks.”

Delaney hobbled off in the first half at Hull on Saturday and Jewell doesn’t expect the Irishman to be involved tomorrow: “He’s a major doubt. He’s hurt the foot he had the operation on and I wouldn’t have thought he’d be available on Wednesday.”

The Town manager says that the formalities have been tied up regarding new loan keeper Alex McCarthy and he will start at St Andrew’s: “That’s all been resolved and he’ll be in the team at Birmingham.”

Meanwhile, Jewell dismissed claims of interest in Leeds defender Andy O'Brien and Norwich's Aaron Wilbraham but says he has spoken to Derby midfielder Paul Green’s representative: “Greeny’s agent rang me when I was on the way to Hull, trying to tell me what type of player he is, so I let him go on for 10 minutes before telling him I signed him at Derby — ‘Oh, did you?’.

“I know all about Paul Green,” he added. “He’s a good footballer but he’s not one that we’ve enquired about.”

The Blues boss was at the Arsenal-Leeds FA Cup tie last night with Whites’ striker Ross McCormack, a 74th minute sub at the Emirates, previously rumoured to be a possible Blues target.

Asked about links with McCormack, Jewell said: “There’s been mentions of lots of people. Ross McCormack scored against us this year, scored a few goals for Cardiff. But we’ve got a few players on the radar who haven’t been mentioned.”

Jewell says that he's yet to receive any offers for current members of his squad.

Photo: Action Images

Blue_Dwarf added 12:03 - Jan 10 Shame on Paul Jewell for a number of reasons
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Furious added 12:04 - Jan 10 Good to see Jewel has got his humour back. In Jewel we Trust.
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icetruckiller added 12:07 - Jan 10 Bottler! Got his contract and now doesn't give a toss about the club, or whether he plays. + Clueless Jewell out
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northstand78 added 12:08 - Jan 10 Can't believe that we've had no enquiries about our dross of a squad
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Infineteregress added 12:10 - Jan 10 McCormack would be a quality signing but our focus needs to be on getting new defenders.
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Cobbold_Youth added 12:20 - Jan 10 Why has Lee-Barrett been dropped? Is he injured or has he committed some grave error?
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pazelle added 12:22 - Jan 10 Refute all of those links please Paul!
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righty added 12:28 - Jan 10 Poor ALB what has he done wrong lots of other players need replacing would nt put him top of the list Jewell OUT NOW true supporters should let him and Clegg know what we think of them saturday they are taking us down
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Garv added 12:33 - Jan 10 Is it so inconceivable that a human being has an illness lasting for a week+? Radio Suffolk Rich said he 'bottled it' on Saturday not wanting to go back to Hull, so he did the same against Forest did he? Doing the same against Birmingham? Why do you think Bullard became a professional footballer you idiots? Maybe because he likes playing football?
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positivity added 12:37 - Jan 10 how long was garvan out with his virus? hope it's not a similar thing...
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Mark added 12:37 - Jan 10 I believe Jimmy is ill and don't mind this, but I do mind his poor performances all season with the huge salary he is undoubtably on. Perhaps he'd like to put some of that right, starting Saturday?! I am glad those links were refuted. How about some links to some young League One players, preferably with truth in them!
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Southamptonblue added 12:38 - Jan 10 According to the ITFC website, they've been treating the virus with antibiotics. No wonder he's not getting better.
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GiveusanI added 12:40 - Jan 10 And if you must, go to work - tomorrow Well, if I were you I wouldn't bother For there are brighter sides to life And I should know, because I've seen them But not very often ... Am I still ill ? But we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore No, we cannot cling to those dreams
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RRanger added 12:42 - Jan 10 ALB was given a new contract as our backup keeper.He hasn't done too badly since he has been in the side - exactly what I would expect from a reserve keeper. Alex McCarthy is a very bright prospect but is Reading's backup keeper.But he is an England U21 international and should be playing regularly which is why Reading have loaned him to us. Stockdale obviously thrived on the match practice he got with us (LOL) and is now playing out of his skin for Fulham. Win/win all round methinks.

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EatonBlue added 12:42 - Jan 10 When I was employed and wanted a bit of time off I used to phone in sick and say that it was 'a virus'.
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Strikes added 12:51 - Jan 10 I went to the doctor today with a virus I picked up on Christmas Eve and I'm still not over it. The difference between me and Bullard (apart from about £30k a week) is that I'm sitting behind a desk all day and not running around a football pitch. I'm feeling wiped out myself but the nature of my job is that I can still perform. So I believe Jimmy's been properly ill. Southamptonblue is right though, you don't treat a virus with antibiotics as they don't work. Club Doctor Out!

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Berts_chin added 13:03 - Jan 10 Get well soon Jimmy.
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Warkys_Tash added 13:06 - Jan 10 Why would he and the club say he is ill if he is not?! Some of you on here need to give him a break and stop moaning. I am sure it is genuine and I am sure Jimmy will come back firing to prove that Ipswich were right to sign him. His performances this season (for whatever reason) have been poor, but I am sure he wouldn't want to be remember as a flop and will turn things around. We need his creativity and goals from midfield. GET WELL SOON , JIMMY! COYB

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uppersirbob added 13:09 - Jan 10 Dont Think Jimmy is the type of bloke to bottle it just picked up a virus that needs to be sorted out Why a new keeper? Alb apart from 2nd goal sat has not done a lot wrong its the ten in front of him !
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cracko82 added 13:10 - Jan 10 Get well soon Jimmy and re-discover that form from last year! You've got history of keeping teams up (Fulham) and could be the difference this year at your best! For those saying Jimmy got what he wanted playing well last year to earn a contract here and now coast along - I'm not convinced! I genuinely believe he loved his time here, playing for PJ & just wants to play games in the latter stages of his career. Would he have joined us had Hull not cancelled his contract - we'll never know but I still have faith a fully fit, firing Jimmy will help us out of the mess we are in. He just needs to do his talking on the pitch and restore some faith in the doubters!

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StowTractorBoy added 13:26 - Jan 10 I fully believe Jimmy is under the weather and hope he will be back asap as I think at his best he could save us again. As for Lee-Barratt sorry but just do not rate the guy yes he is OK, but just OK and he is always an accident waiting to happen and it happened again on Saturday. In my opinion he is a good number three. What I will say however, is that he has been messed around by PJ, so fair play to the lad for giving his best when called upon.

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ForeverTractorBoy added 13:29 - Jan 10 Who remembers the likes of owen garvan and danny haynes down at portan road? Now we have lee bowyer and daryl murthy! Not good
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Warky223611 added 13:34 - Jan 10 He isnt ill fellas, he is just interested in moving now the club has plummeted. Funny that, he's been ill for 2 weeks.
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Len_Brennan added 13:44 - Jan 10 A fit, in form and playing in position Jimmy Bullard should be one of the top, if not the top, midfielder in this league. He proved that at the back end of last season and needs to do so again. For whatever reason (and we all have our theories) he has seriously underperformed since signing permanently. I think it may have had much to do with how and where he was utilised in the team early on. He should not have been playing at the base of a midfield diamond which lacks pace and by definition has no width. Also with the defensive being so poor, and constantly changing personnel, there was far too great a need for cover to be provided from that position. If it was simply a case, as some have suggested, of him only being interested in money and not caring once he had a contract he would still be at Hull - he was on a greater weekly wage and was contracted until summer of next year anyway. Jewell has not gotten the best out of him, but he can still be a major weapon for us if he comes back from this illness with his head (and fitness) right and is played in his best position with the right players alongside & in front of him.

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Surco72 added 13:50 - Jan 10 Jimmy will come back and be a star again for us played in the right position and formation as he was last season and against West Ham ,Boro, Coventry and Brighton this . And then we will have all the arm chair critics slagging him off jumping on the Bullard band wagon again
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