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McCarthy Has Almost Full Squad for Easter Weekend - Ipswich Town News

Manager Mick McCarthy has almost a full squad to choose from ahead of the Easter weekend fixtures at home to Leeds and at Millwall.

McCarthy says new keeper Jason Brown won’t be involved against the Whites on Saturday having been brought in as cover for Scott Loach, who will return to the team after Stephen Henderson's departure, and Arran Lee-Barrett, who will be on the bench.

"He’s coming in as number three, but he’s happy to do it," McCarthy said. "He’s not got a club. He’s very experienced and he’s trained well with us. He’s fitted in straight away.

"You need them for playing, but the other side of that is that if you’ve only got two keepers and we’re finishing and crossing and shooting and they’re in the nets all the time, you only have to get one injured. You can rotate them when you’ve got three keepers, give them a rest.

"If we do have any problems, then he is vastly experienced and I’d have no worries about having to play him.

"He’s come in as number three, which is great. There may be an opportunity for him for next season. You really need to have three keepers around the place.

"Other people [are also trying to bring in more keepers]. I know Wolves they’ve taken [former Town trialist Marian] Kello, who was at Hearts. There are people looking for them but who wants to give you a goalkeeper at this stage?

"We’ve just lost one because West Ham had to take their one back. We want to just make sure we’re OK and secure in that department.”

The Blues boss confirmed that striker Frank Nouble is back after a minor hamstring injury: "Frank’s fine, he trained really well today, it’s good to have him back.”

Right-back Elliott Hewitt also missed the game prior to the international break, the 1-0 home victory over Bolton, but the 18-year-old is over the hip injury which saw him withdrawn from the Wales U21 squad : "He’s fine, they’ve all trained.

"We had 21 training this morning, outfield players, 24 with the keepers. A full complement, apart from Paul Taylor.”

Town’s other longer-term absentee Anthony Wordsworth is available again after cracking three vertebrae in the Blackpool match: "Anthony Wordsworth is training and he’s in with a chance. He’s looked great.”

Guirane N’Daw missed the Bolton match after his arrest and McCarthy says he has trained with the squad and is in contention for Saturday.

Midfielder Lee Martin misses the final game of his three-match suspension on Saturday, while loanee Patrick Kisnorbo is unable to play against his parent side Leeds.

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