Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll field as strong a side as he can when Vanarama National League leaders Lincoln City visit Portman Road in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, but has injury concerns regarding skipper Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Myles Kenlock and has confirmed that Dean Gerken will start in goal rather than first-choice Bartosz Bialkowski.
"My captain Chambo has got a bit of swelling on his knee, so we’ll have to see how he is,” McCarthy said. "Skusey likewise has got a swelling on his knee and he’s going for a scan this afternoon.
"Hopefully it won’t flag up anything serious, nevertheless swollen knees on a Thursday before a cup tie is not what I’d really want.
"Myles Kenlock’s a doubt with his calf. He’s done great, I’ve been delighted with him and but for his injury on Monday at Queens Park Rangers he wouldn’t have come off.”
Having named weakened teams for cup matches in the past, McCarthy says he’s not going to go down that route on Saturday.
"It’ll be as strong as I can make it,” he said. "Gerks will play in goal but that’s hardly weakening it with Dean Gerken in, he’s a first-team goalkeeper. And the rest will be as strong as I can make it.”
He says he may include one or two younger players, perhaps striker Ben Morris, among the subs: "Possibly on Saturday. But it’ll be as strong as I can make it.”
Regarding his longer-term injuries he says Luke Hyam and Tommy Smith are closing in on returns having undergone knee and back surgery respectively, along with Teddy Bishop, who has had an ankle problem.
"Luke should be back in February, hopefully having games in the U23s by then, along with Tommy Smith and Teddy Bishop,” he said.
Paul Digby is fit again and back in training after a knee injury, but Giles Coke, who has been out all season, remains on the sidelines.
"Giles has really struggled with his knee this year, he’s had a lot of treatment on it and has had a couple of ops on it, so he’s just fighting his way back, he’s having a tough time of it,” he added.
Loanee Jonny Williams also remains sidelined having undergone shoulder surgery and isn't due back until March.