Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Brett Pitman and Adam Webster have joined his already lengthy injury list but better news is that Grant Ward is fit for Tuesday’s home game against Brighton along with Teddy Bishop, while Josh Emmanuel and Leon Best will both start.
Pitman (knee and ankle), Webster (hamstring) and Ward (knee) all suffered their injuries in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Leeds.
"Two of them are out, Pits, as you’d imagine, and Adam Webster with his hamstring,” McCarthy said.
"They’ve both just returned having had scans and we’ll see the extent of the damage, but neither will be fit for tomorrow night or Saturday. But Grant Ward is all right, he’s trained today.”
McCarthy confirmed that Bishop, who broke his nose in the home game against Aston Villa, will be in the squad.
"He’s wearing the protective mask, he’s got the Phantom of the Opera mask,” the Town boss added. "He’s having his nose reset tonight, that’s not the best preparation for anybody but he’s fit and he’s available and he’ll be in the squad.”
But Luke Varney remains sidelined with the hamstring problem he picked up in the 4-0 U23s victory over Leeds last Monday: "Luke Varney is another one, it’ll probably be after international break now.”
Loanee Jonny Williams is training with the squad but is not ready to be included in the 18 after his ankle injury, while Tommy Smith (back surgery), Luke Hyam (knee), David McGoldrick (ankle) and Giles Coke (knee) are all still out, along with young midfielder Adam McDonnell, who is also currently undergoing treatment.
McCarthy says Freddie Sears and Kevin Bru reported problems after the Leeds match but were involved at Playford Road today.
"Freddie’s been in nursing a tight groin and Kevin Bru had a tight thigh yesterday but they both trained,” he added. "I don’t need any more problems, that’s plenty for me.”
The Blues manager confirmed that 19-year-old Josh Emmanuel will start at right-back with skipper Luke Chambers moving into the middle.
"Josh is playing,” he said. "Whenever he’s played he’s done OK, he’s played well. It was nothing to do with him not playing well when he got left out, it’s just that I’ve had a very settled back four and they’re all regulars. Opportunity knocks for him."
McCarthy also confirmed that Leon Best will make his first start for the Blues up front having impressed him as a sub in the last two games.