Blues assistant manager Chris Hutchings says striker Michael Chopra will be fine to take his place up front for Town against his old club Cardiff at Portman Road on Saturday despite suffering a minor knock in the 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Tuesday. There was further good news for the Blues with midfielder Lee Bowyer in with a chance of being involved in the squad, while Ibrahima Sonko was also out on the training field this morning.
Hutchings, who for a change took on the duties of speaking to the written press this morning, although with boss Paul Jewell at the club, says Chopra is fine: "He got a kick but he trained fully this morning.
"His calves were a little bit tight as well, so it was just a precaution him coming off, and also to add a fresh pair of legs up front with Jason Scotland going on."
The former Chelsea full-back says Lee Bowyer could be back in the squad for the first time since suffering his groin injury in the Nottingham Forest match on January 2nd: "Lee’s training today and he’s trained all week. We’ll have to wait and see whether he’s included in the squad.”
Ibrahima Sonko dislocated a rib during the abandoned game against Middlesbrough but Hutchings says the centre-half is already making tentative moves in the right direction: "He’s done a little bit of jogging today, so that’s a major plus.
"He’ll be assessed tomorrow. Obviously he’s not going to be available [at the weekend], it’s slow progress.
"When they do a little bit of work, it’s about how they are in the morning the next day whether they can step up their work, maintain their work or whatever. It was good to see him out on the training ground doing a little bit of jogging.”
The Senegalese international was expected to be out for between two and four weeks but Hutchings wouldn’t be drawn on whether his early appearance on the training field means he’s likely to be back nearer the fortnight mark: "It’s too early to say at the moment in time.
"Sometimes it’s day by day. Physios are never going to say it’s two weeks to us because if he then takes four weeks he’ll get a rollocking! But it’s encouraging to see him out there.”
Meanwhile, Town owner Marcus Evans has bought independent television producer World Productions.