Striker Luke Varney won’t be fit enough to be in the squad for tomorrow’s home game against Burton Albion, but better news is that fellow frontman David McGoldrick is closing in on his return to the first team and will be in the U23s side at Colchester this evening with a view to being involved at Newcastle on Saturday.
Varney, who suffered a hamstring injury playing for the U23s before the international break but returned to first-team action as a sub against Huddersfield, missed out on a place in the 18 at Blackburn on Saturday and manager Mick McCarthy says he won’t be in the squad as the Brewers make their first ever trip to Portman Road.
"He’s just struggling a little bit to get back to that full fitness, so he’s not available,” McCarthy confirmed.
Regarding McGoldrick, the Blues boss is delighted that he will be back in action against the U’s, having ruptured ankle ligaments in the EFL Cup defeat to Stevenage in August.
"That’s great for him personally, first and foremost, to be back and playing in a competitive game, an 11-a-side game on the full pitch,” he added.
"We structured it when he was coming back with us so nobody could tackle him, he’s been wearing a different coloured bib so people don’t tackle him.
"He’s been getting his work-rate on the full pitch so that’s kind of protected him, but then he’s gradually got into the smaller-sided games and he’s been tackling and shooting and withstanding all of that, so now it’s the last step before we can say he’s fully fit and ready for the first-team squad.”
McCarthy says the 28-year-old Ireland international has been pencilled in for the trip to Newcastle at the weekend.
"I’m not suggesting for one minute that if he plays 60 minutes he’s going to play from the start and complete the game at Newcastle, that would be a bit too much to ask,” McCarthy continued.
"But to be involved would be brilliant because we’ve already seen in the training sessions the quality that we all know he’s got. It just reminds us sometimes, it’s lovely to see.”
Another striker, Brett Pitman, is still a little way off a return from the ankle injury he suffered at Leeds.
"He’s off his crutches, so he won’t be fit for Tuesday or Saturday but he’s now walking, he’s just got the protective boot on. He’s going to be another six weeks,” McCarthy said.
Jonny Williams made his return to action and his fourth Town debut as a sub late at Blackburn on Saturday but McCarthy says the on-loan Crystal Palace man isn’t yet ready to start.
Midfielder Luke Hyam (knee) and centre-half Tommy Smith (back) are still recovering from surgery.
Town are running a ticket promotion at the Burton game with season ticket and Silver Card holders able to buy additional tickets for £10.