Town boss Mick McCarthy has revealed that midfielder Kevin Bru will be back on the bench for Tuesday’s home game against Sunderland with Flynn Downes out until after the international break.
Downes, 18, suffered a thigh problem in training last week and missed Saturday’s trip to Leeds.
"He won’t be available until after the break, he’s tweaked his thigh,” manager Mick McCarthy said at his pre-match press conference, which was covered live by TWTV.
"We’ve got no new injuries, we’ve got one or two tired legs, that’s for sure.
"Tristan Nydam came in and he was brilliant, but he played on Tuesday [for the U23s], he played on Saturday, but he’s trained today.
"They’re not injured, we’ve just got one or two aching, tired limbs, as you’d expect.”
McCarthy says he could look at freshening his side up with his squad now having more strength in depth as players return from injury: "I’ve certainly considered that.”
Bru was told he could find a new club at the end of last season, wasn’t given a squad number ahead of 2017/18, however, the former Levski Sofia man was unable to secure a move before the transfer window closed at the end of last month.
The 28-year-old made a number of appearances for the Blues in pre-season but his only games during the campaign proper were for Mauritius at a tournament in India last month.
"Kevin Bru’s on the bench tomorrow,” McCarthy confirmed. "He’s kicked a ball for us this season because I’ve Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam, who in my view are equally as good and are going to be better.
"And they’re the future of the club. So Kevin was put on the list, but he’s been great, he’s trained really well and I’m sure he’ll be delighted to be involved.”
If the Paris-born schemer impresses should he get on the field could he get himself back in his manager’s plans? "Up until Christmas, yes, he’s here, he’s our player.
"He said to me today, ‘I’m here’. But I haven’t needed him and I told him he could go in the summer and that will be the case in January, unless he comes in and rips it up and gets five or six goals between now and then.
"Good luck to him. He’s been a model professional considering. He’s never had his nose pushed out though, he’s trained pretty much every day with the first team and he’s been kept involved. But he’s a great lad, so he’s on the bench.”
Central defender Adam Webster played for the U23s as they were beaten 2-1 at Coventry this afternoon as he continues his comeback after an ankle injury, while Tommy Smith (hamstring), Luke Hyam (knee) and Andre Dozzell (cruciate) all remain sidelined.
McCarthy said last week that Emyr Huws (achilles) and Teddy Bishop (groin) should be fit after the international break.
Meanwhile, the Town boss dismissed yesterday’s report which claimed he is keen to sign free agent former Bolton midfielder Jay Spearing: "I saw it. No, I’m not looking for any midfield players.”