Town boss Roy Keane says young defender Tom Eastman has done “brilliantly” since he came into the first team and says he’s not looking to sign another right-back. Eastman, primarily a central defender, has been the Blues’ regular right full-back in recent weeks.
Keane said: "I don’t think right-back is a major problem for us. Tom Eastman’s done brilliant for us, [the Derby game] was his first defeat in the first team this season. He’s played eight games for us and that was the first loss.”
The Blues boss, who kept his players in their dressing room for just over an hour after Tuesday’s match, says the youngsters need the support of more senior players when they’re having difficult evenings: "He’s three months out of the youth team, he’s been brilliant for us and is going to have a great future ahead of him, but Tom, like other players, is entitled to an off-night.
"But when they have an off-night they need players to help them out, same with Connor Wickham. They’re two players just out of the youth team. If you think those two boys are going to get us out of the league, then you’re kidding yourselves.
"Tom Eastman’s done brilliantly, I’m delighted with Tom. Tom’s the least of my worries. We’ve also got other right-backs such as Jaime Peters and Troy Brown.”
Having ruled defender Gareth McAuley out of Saturday’s game with Barnsley straight after the Derby match Keane now says the Northern Irishman does have some chance of making it, albeit a slim one. He told the club site: "We had to take Gareth off with the injury and he is very doubtful for the weekend.
"He has been struggling for a week or two with an achilles problem and was touch and go for Tuesday night as it was.
"David Norris is unlikely to make it as well. As often happens with ankle injuries, if they don't settle down in a week they can become a problem."
Skipper Norris, who is the subject of a new billboard at Ipswich Station, picked up the ankle problem in the Millwall match. Grant Leadbitter is suspended from Saturday’s game having reached five bookings.