Full-back or midfielder Jonny Parr is available for tomorrow's home game against now-relegated Blackpool, having recovered from his hamstring injury but young winger Dylan Connolly has joined those on the sidelines having picked up an ankle problem in the U21s on Tuesday. McCarthy has also reiterated that there is "nothing sinister" regarding David McGoldrick's continued absence.
"No fresh injuries amongst those who have been playing, thankfully,” manager Mick McCarthy said. "Dylan Connolly got a knock in the U21s, he was excellent in that, so he won’t be in the squad.
"But Jonny Parr’s back and everybody else is still the same. Didz is not fit. Darren Ambrose isn’t fit, although he’ll do some rehab today, Luke Hyam, Noel Hunt, Kevin Bru are all still injured.”
McCarthy says it’s increasingly unlikely that McGoldrick, who continues to be frustrated by a thigh problem, and Hyam, who suffered a knee injury in the FA Cup replay against Southampton and then last week a setback in his recovery, will feature again before the end of the regular season.
"Doubtful actually,” he admitted. "Didzy’s been coming back and he keeps coming back to a point in his training, then he’s missing for another week so his rehab keeps getting put further and further back.
"I’ve said to Luke Hyam, just leave it and if we end up in the play-offs [there might be a chance], and who knows then, it could extend to that.
"But you don’t want to be in here all close season because he’s had a tough time with the injury, so he wants to be fit when he leaves and then he can come back fighting front.
"Kevin Bru [calf] will be fit, Darren Ambrose [hamstring], he’s having some rehab, but there are maybe two or three we might not see.
"And, of course, the season’s ebbing away pretty quickly now, there’s less and less time for them to get fit.”
He says there is nothing more than the injury to McGoldrick’s situation with some fans having put two and two together and come up with alternative scenarios regarding the striker - a £7 million target of Premier League Leicester in the summer - during his now two-month spell on the sidelines.
"I can’t help that, how people count and whether they can add up or not I don’t know,” McCarthy added. "There’s nothing sinister about Didzy at all.
"Didzy’s desperate to play. You should see the look on his face today. I’ve said ‘Are you OK?’ and he’s said ‘No’. I’ve said ‘Are you OK, your injury’s different, how are you? How are you in yourself?’.
"When you’re injured it’s an awful feeling. He wants to play. In answer to all those questions, yes, of course he is going to be here [next season] - ‘Mick McCarthy confirms David McGoldrick will be here next season… Good luck!’.”
Left-back Tyrone Mings is back from his two-match ban and will start.