x

Hyam and Murphy Expected to be Fit for Huddersfield Trip - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy expects Luke Hyam and Daryl Murphy will be fit for Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield, despite suffering niggles during Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat to Hull City.

Hyam, who was returning from an earlier calf problem, was replaced in the second half with a hamstring injury but is now on the mend.

"He’s a slight doubt, he’s reported in this morning feeling much better and more optimistic about it,” McCarthy said.

"Having had the fitness test he put a shift in the other night and he just felt fatigued, his hamstring. Hopefully he’ll be OK but we’ll wait and see tomorrow. Murph has just been feeling a bit tight but he should be OK as well.”

Having left on-loan Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles out of the 18 on Tuesday he says the 18-year-old has "trained great today” and outlined the reasons for his omission.

"It was just the fact that I had Larsen Touré fit and I thought if I needed to make an impact perhaps he would do that more as he’s been training really well,” he added.

"It’s been tough for Ainsley, it’s been a long, hard season for him, he’s never had one like this so it’s no surprise that a young lad like that might have a dip in form. But he’s a really good player and he’ll be back with us.”

McCarthy says he’s not quite sure when Cole Skuse will be back from his toe problem: "It’s difficult to tell, bearing in mind it’s a ligament in his toe. He’s started running.

"It’s like any ligament, you can get to the point where you think it’s fine but then you’ve got to go out and kick a ball and tackle and block shots and what have you.

"They said it was going to be four to six weeks and I think that’s what’ll be the case. Whatever it was he’s into his third week. It’ll just take time.

"Fingers crossed, if he’s available for Bolton, Cardiff, Blackburn, Rotherham territory we’d be delighted.”

He says midfielder Giles Coke is still some way off a return from the knee injury he suffered at QPR: "He’s not been out training yet, he’s nowhere near.”

Central defender Piotr Malarczyk, who has had a kidney stone, is also not yet ready to return to the squad.

"We’re talking about a procedure that he has to have done tomorrow which left one or two crossing their legs,” McCarthy revealed. "I’ve asked him if they can film it.”

Ryan Fraser, Teddy Bishop and David McGoldrick all remain sidelined with their hamstring injuries.

Meanwhile, the Blues boss confirmed that he is still looking for loan additions and that there are funds there if he finds someone he wants to bring in, although says that’s not always easy.

"There aren’t too many around that people want to let go,” the Town boss continued. "And if that’s the case we’ll have to make do and mend with what we’ve got and get on with it, like we always do.”


What to read next:

[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
McKenna: A Different Blackburn Team to the One We Faced Two Years Ago
Town travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday aiming to record back-to-back wins for the first time since the end of their 2023/24 Championship promotion season.
McKenna: Matusiwa Making Really Positive Steps
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says summer signing Azor Matusiwa has made positive steps in his first five games in the Championship with Town now very strong in their midfield department.
McKenna: New Leadership Group Finalised
Blues manager Kieran McKenna says a new leadership group has been finalised with the players assembled over the summer getting to know one another better having taken part in some team bonding last weekend.
McKenna: Blades Win a Good Way to Start the Next Chapter
Town boss Kieran McKenna says last week’s 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United gave everyone a boost but that the players were in a positive mindset and looking forward to the season ahead even prior to the victory over the Blades.
McKenna: Burns Making Progress, Everyone Else Has Trained
Town boss Kieran McKenna says Wes Burns is making good progress as he continues his recovery from his ACL injury with the Wales international the only player absent from training this week ahead of Saturday’s game at Blackburn Rovers.
New Call Me Ted Poster For Norwich Derby
Town poster gurus Call Me Ted have produced a new design ahead of the East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Portman Road on Sunday 5th October.
U17s Beaten By Hammers
Town’s youngsters were beaten 4-0 by West Ham United in their opening U17 Premier League Cup game at Playford Road this afternoon.
[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.