Jay Tabb and Noel Hunt will be back in the Town squad travelling to Blackburn for Saturday’s crucial final game of the season, while Richard Chaplow is expected to return to training tomorrow and could also be involved. Loanee Luke Varney is unavailable against his parent club.
Tabb missed last week’s 2-1 home victory against Nottingham Forest as he was ill and Chaplow suffered a groin injury in training, while Hunt had been expected to miss the rest of the season with the knee injury he sustained at Fulham in February.
"Richard Chaplow didn’t train today but I’d expect him to train tomorrow though and to have a chance to be involved,” manager Mick McCarthy said. "Tabby’s fine, Noel Hunt is fine, a remarkable recovery he’s had.”
The Blues boss had praise for the impact his second-half subs made during the Forest game, including Varney, who he is disappointed to be without this weekend.
"The subs were excellent,” he said. "Ando’s played lots of games, Kevin Bru has as well and was only out because of an injury at Watford and he was outstanding that day.
"Luke Varney has been terrific since he walked through the door. Sadly we can’t use him, but that’s what subs are for, they’re not there to keep the bench warm and then come on and sulk because they’re not playing.
"That’s the reaction we all expect, it’s not the reaction we always get. But from our lads this season it’s been great.”
The fifth-placed Blues need a point at Ewood Park to secure a place in the play-offs for the first time in a decade while they could lose and still make it as long as the results in two of the games involving Derby, Brentford and Wolves go in their favour.