Top scorer Tom Lawrence is available again after a two-match ban and an ankle injury for Saturday’s home game against Brentford, while his Wales international team-mate Jonny Williams is closing in on his return following shoulder surgery, however, Teddy Bishop won’t be involved against the Bees due to a groin problem.
"Tom’s just had a bit of a problem with his ankle so he’s had to take care of that, but he’s trained today and he’s looked good,” manager Mick McCarthy said regarding 10-goal Lawrence, who has missed the last two games having amassed 10 bookings. "I’m sure he’s desperate to play.”
McCarthy says skipper Luke Chambers, who damaged ribs at Brighton recently, has missed some training but was out there on the training field along with Lawrence today: "Chambo was out but he’s fine, Tom Lawrence is back out. We had a good training session today.”
He says midfielder Bishop won’t be involved on Saturday, although his problem isn’t serious: "He’s just got a bit of a tight groin at the minute, so he’s not available. He may well train on Friday.”
On-loan Crystal Palace man Williams has been out of action since suffering his injury at Wigan in December but isn’t too far away from a return and the 23-year-old has been pencilled in to play in Monday’s U23s game against Bristol City at Playford Road (KO 1pm).
"Jonny Williams is training but he’s not ready yet, he’s going to play in the U23s game on Monday,” McCarthy added.
"He’s trained for the last couple of days and has got a smile on his face, he's pretty happy about himself, he’s feeling a lot better.”
He added: "Once he’s back and injury free, he’ll be ready for selection and we all know what a good player he is.”
The Town boss says central defender Steven Taylor is doing well but won’t be back from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday.
"He’s injured but there’s no chance of him coming back this weekend,” he said. "He’s progressing nicely, I think. He’s quite positive about it.
"It was a real shame for him because I think he probably played a couple of weeks too soon having come here, he could have done with a bit more training and football.
"He did well while he was in the team and he’s been a really good influence around the place, very positive and he’s come to the games. I’ve brought him to the away games with us and I think he’s good to have around for the lads.”
McCarthy says another central defender, Adam Webster, will be over his ankle injury in time to start pre-season with the rest of the squad.
"Yes, he will,” he continued. "When he first injured his ankle there was some suggestion that he might be fit for the last week of the season.
"Well, unless he’s absolutely 100 per cent fit he won’t be involved at all and we’ll take the six or eight weeks they have off and make sure he’s ready for pre-season so we’re starting with a fit Adam Webster.”
McCarthy is pleased that another of his centre-halves, Tommy Smith, and midfielder Luke Hyam both travelled to Norwich last weekend with the New Zealand international making his first appearance since undergoing back surgery in September as a second-half sub.
"Tommy’s back and in the squad and Luke Hyam was in the squad at Norwich, so it was good to have those two back,” McCarthy continued.
The Town boss says on-loan Reading striker Dominic Samuel (broken toe) will be out doing some work on the training ground next week.
Midfielder Giles Coke is set to be released at the end of the season having missed the entire campaign with a knee injury, while McCarthy has said striker Leon Best, who recently underwent a groin operation, won’t play for him again.