Blues boss Mick McCarthy hopes Teddy Bishop will play a part in the remaining games of the season but says fellow midfielder Kundai Benyu is likely to remain with his loan club Aldershot for the rest of the season.
Bishop has made only six starts and 13 sub appearances this season having missed virtually the whole of 2015/16 through a succession of injuries.
The 20-year-old, who has recently been out of action with a groin problem, played the full 90 minutes in this afternoon’s 1-0 U23s loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
McCarthy says he hopes the academy product will be involved in his first team in the final games of the season.
"I’d like to think so,” he said, speaking prior to this afternoon’s match. "In training he’s looked fine, but on 60x40 pitches or half a pitch, very rarely do we have a full game at this stage of the season unless it’s to practice something.
"Eleven-a-sides, that’s the difference, running that 70 yards and then running back, somebody chasing you and kicking you. He’s not yet done that so hopefully he’ll get that today.”
McCarthy says Cambridge-born Bishop has been missed: "He’s a been a big loss to the club, to the team because he’s a good player. But I haven’t got a magic wand to get them on the pitch, I’m afraid.
"A lot of it is down to them getting themselves on the pitch. He does his work, to be fair to him.
"[Physio] Matt Byard’s been fantastic, they keep getting him fit and he keeps breaking down. Let’s hope this time it’s a bit longer lasting.”
Regarding Benyu, who scored twice for Aldershot as they won 2-0 at Solihull Moors on Saturday, McCarthy says he’s not considered calling him back, despite Cole Skuse being out of tomorrow’s match against Wigan with concussion and Emyr Huws only just returning after a hamstring problem.
"He’s going to be left there to continue doing well,” the Town boss said. "And I’d be overlooking Teddy Bishop and Andre Dozzell.
"It’s lovely when in the media you can pick out whoever’s doing well at the time and throw it at me and I’m expected to jump and say ‘Oh yes, I’ll bring him back and we’ll play him’ and it’ll be all happy-slappy.
🎥 WATCH | Action from Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to @OfficialShots courtesy of @thealexmanners. #SMFC pic.twitter.com/ky4zRzg8p5– Solihull Moors FC (@SolihullMoors) April 3, 2017
"It doesn’t work like that. He’s not coming back. I had the discussion with you [the media] on Thursday last week, that if they get to the play-offs pretty much he’ll stay with them and play in the play-offs unless I can play him in a game I’d like to play him in.
"Emyr’s missed a bit but he’s a really experienced player, as is Toums, as is Kevin Bru. We’ve got a few others.”
McCarthy said last week that the Blues will be taking up their one-year option on 19-year-old Benyu's contract and will be offering him new terms.
Meanwhile, veteran centre-half Steven Taylor returned to the bench on Saturday after his hamstring injury and McCarthy says he is itching to get involved again.
"He is. He’s done great, I’m delighted with him, he’s a good character around the place.”