Boss Mick McCarthy says he has been pleased with striker Frank Nouble’s contributions at times during his 19 months at the club but that the 22-year-old needs to move on if he’s to play games. Yesterday, McCarthy confirmed that the former Wolves, West Ham and Chelsea man has been made available for loan or permanent transfer.
"I’m not disappointed with him,” McCarthy said. "I’ve been appreciative and delighted with the input he’s had at times. When he’s come on, he’s come off the bench and changed games for us.
"But he’s just not getting games on a regular basis and he wants to play. He knows I’ve brought Conor in and as soon as he saw that I guess he thought the writing was on the wall. He wants to go and play, so I’m happy to let him go.”
Despite Nouble being made available, McCarthy says no one is ever entirely ruled out until they’ve actually moved on.
"There’s no point, is there?” he added. "The problem is that players make their minds up as well.
"If I’m not wanting to play him and I say ‘Frank, you’re available for transfer or for loan’, it’s kind of a bit of a cut-off point, isn’t it?
"But who knows? He’ll still be travelling with us. We might travel up to Birmingham and we might have gastroenteritis on the bus and he plays and scores.
"That is the unknown, I haven’t got a clue about that. But all things being equal, he won’t be involved.”
Peterborough United have ruled out a move for Nouble, who has scored five goals in 26 starts and 33 sub appearances for the Blues, but fellow League One side Rochdale, managed by Keith Hill, who was in charge at Barnsley during the former England U19 international's second loan spell at Oakwell, are believed to be amongst those interested.
Meanwhile, McCarthy has reiterated that youngsters Matt Clarke and Teddy Bishop will be considered part of his first-team squad this season, having made their debuts at Crawley last Tuesday.
"Clarkey and Teddy Bishop will get games this year,” he said. "I was going to say if we’re low on numbers but it sounds a bit wrong that.
"But there are people in front of them. If we get injuries or suspensions [then they’ll be in the frame].
"I thought Clarkey did himself the world of good in that game. He could play left-back or left centre-back. And Teddy Bishop, I really like him, so if they’re needed I’ll be happy to play them.”
Winger Cameron Stewart remains sidelined for around another month with a broken jaw and McCarthy says the former Hull City man is limited in what he’s able to do training-wise.
"Just non-contact, he can’t join in the football in case he gets a whack in the face with a ball or a shoulder or an elbow or some sort of contact which will break it again,” he said.
"He can do his fitness work, but non-contact, not football. So, he’s not a happy camper at the moment.”