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Taylor and Chopra Miss Barnsley Trip - Ipswich Town News

Town will again be without frontmen Paul Taylor and Michael Chopra when they take on Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday. Taylor could face surgery on his cracked foot, while Chopra is still sidelined with his thigh strain.

Jewell said: "Paul Taylor went to see the surgeon yesterday. There are two scenarios. The worst case scenario is that he may need an operation. If that happens, it’ll be a long-term thing.

"We’re going down the route of being conservative with it and trying to treat it and seeing how it settles down over the next six weeks. If it settles down and he doesn’t need an operation, fantastic. But if he does, it’ll be a long-term one.

"I wouldn’t have thought we’d have him for six weeks, although the type of character he is, he’s shaking his head at that, thinking he’ll be back before then.

"It’s a nasty injury and we’ve got to be careful that we give him the right treatment and the right rehabilitation.”

Jewell says Chopra will also be out on Saturday, although the former Barnsley loanee may be available for Tuesday’s game at Brighton: "Michael Chopra’s got a thigh strain, he picked that up against Wolves and he’s out for Saturday. So, we’re a little bit light in the striking department.”

New right-back Elliott Hewitt’s comeback from hip surgery was temporarily halted by a thigh strain but the ex-Macclesfield man will be back with the squad in a few days: "Because he’s been out for so long he’s going to pick up these little niggles. He’s going to be training from the middle of next week.”

Jewell confirmed that new loan signing Danny Higginbotham will be in the XI at Oakwell having been a sub against Charlton last weekend: "Danny will start."

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