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Jewell Has Rare Options at Centre-Half - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Jewell unusually could have decisions to make at centre-half for Monday’s live Sky game against Coventry with Ívar Ingimarsson closing in on fitness after his spell out with a thigh injury. Senegalese international Ibrahima Sonko has trained only fleetingly since being at the club but is also likely to be available for selection against the Sky Blues.

Jewell said: "Ívar’s been up and down, it’s been difficult for him because he got injured after three or four days of pre-season.

"He got back fit, got into the team, but then got injured at Bristol City, so it’s been stop-start for Ívar.

"He had 90 minutes against Gillingham [for the reserves] the other day and that will only have done him good, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

The Blues manager says the Sonko has been on the Playford Road sidelines this week but is training with the fitness coach today: "In fairness to him, he’s only trained once or twice since he’s been here.

"After the Leeds game he nicked his hamstring, then his first day’s training last week was on the Friday before the game at Blackpool and he’s been a bit stiff since.

"That’s because he hasn’t got a proper pre-season under his belt. I think he deserves great credit for almost wheeling himself out for games.”

Recent loan signing Danny Collins will almost certainly partner Sonko or Ingimarsson at the heart of the defence on Monday.

Jewell says striker Nathan Ellington will come into his thoughts after his hat-trick in the reserves' 8-1 victory on Tuesday: "We’ve only got five subs, but he will be in contention, Scotland will be in contention, anyone who is fit and is doing well in training will be in contention.

"There’s nothing to say he’s only going to be on the bench, he can play as well. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Midfielder Lee Martin misses Monday’s game as he is serving the final game of his three-match ban for his red card at Peterborough, but Mark Kennedy is fine after his recent calf niggle.

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