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Jewell Waiting on Fitness Tests - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Jewell says a number of unnamed players face fitness tests ahead of Tuesday’s home game with Reading. The Blues are definitely without Mark Kennedy and Colin Healy.

Jewell said: "We’ve got one or two injury concerns which are probably going to stretch us a little bit. Mark Kennedy’s not going to be available, Colin Healy’s not going to be available, but don’t ask me who the others are because I’m not going to tell you.”

The Blues boss says he’s not sure how long Kennedy will be missing: "I don’t know yet. He had an injection on Saturday night and he had one again yesterday. It’s a bit sore this morning. You have to be careful with hamstrings and he’s had a couple of hamstrings before this season.

"I think he showed his experience by stopping at the right time. As soon as he felt a little pinch he came off. I don’t like putting times on injuries but I think he’ll be fit before the international break.”

Healy is likely to be back sooner: "It’s a little tear. It’s like everyone else, we’re all different healers but I wouldn’t expect him to be out too long. I would expect him to be available for selection on Saturday.”

Striker Connor Wickham was subbed in the latter stages on Saturday appearing to be suffering from an ankle problem but Jewell says the 17-year-old will be in his team against the Royals: "I think he was just a little bit tired.

"I brought him off, then he decided he didn’t want to come off. I think Connor is a young lad who’s played a lot of games in a short space of time, playing in a position that’s probably not his favourite position.

"We’ve got to be careful that, while he’s big and strong, he’s still only 17 and we’ve got to keep an eye on fatigue, but he’s going to be OK for tomorrow.”

Keeper Brian Murphy is around two weeks away from joining in full training after his broken ankle and is currently working with goalkeeper-coach Jim Hollman.

Midfielder Alan Quinn is continuing his recovery from the groin injury which has decimated his season and might have played in a reserves friendly with Tottenham later in the week but Town have called it off due to the large number of first team games coming up.

Meanwhile, former Town loanee Andros Townsend has joined Millwall on loan having had his previous spell with Watford cut short.

Elsewhere, Charlie Austin, who turned down a move to Town to join Burnley in January, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

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