Midfielder Kevin Bru has been ruled out of Saturday’s game at Charlton and the home match against Leeds United the following week. Central defender Christophe Berra is suspended for the game at the Valley, but better news is that Stephen Hunt is fit after a hamstring problem and manager Mick McCarthy is “confident” that left-back Tyrone Mings will also be OK.
Bru limped off with a turned ankle at Bournemouth on Saturday and McCarthy confirmed that the Mauritian international will be unavailable at the Valley.
"He’s not ready for Saturday and he probably won’t be ready for next Saturday,” he said. "It’s going to be a couple of weeks, probably three weeks before he plays. Sad but he won’t be involved.
"Hunty’s all right, he’s trained today. Tyrone hasn’t trained but I’m hopeful he’ll be out tomorrow. He’s got a dead leg and he’s got a bit of a tight glute. Hopefully he’ll be OK, he’s expected to train tomorrow, fingers crossed for that.”
The Town boss says Matt Clarke will start if Mings fails to make it with new short-term signing Sean St Ledger unlikely to be involved as he is down to play for the U21s at Millwall on Friday as he works on his fitness. Fellow new addition Noel Hunt will be in the squad.
Central defender Berra is suspended for one match having reached five bookings at Bournemouth.
Also sidelined at the moment is Cameron Stewart, who suffered an injury in the U21 match against Southampton.
"Poor old Cammy can’t get fit,” McCarthy added. "He’s brightened up in the last few U21 games and played well. I thought he did well on Monday night and limped off with a hamstring strain.”
McCarthy says short-term signing Jack Collison remains out of action with a knee injury: "We’re just taking care of him, I’m not going to predict what he’s going to be doing, we’ll just make sure he’s fit.”
Meanwhile, Charlton will again be without former Blues loan keeper Stephen Henderson due to a shoulder injury. One-time Town academy schoolboy - and boyhood Portman Road season ticket holder - Nick Pope will deputise.