Blues boss Paul Hurst says form, injury and currently illness have been factors in Barry Cotter not having been in or around the first team so far this season.
Having signed from Limerick in his native Republic of Ireland in January, the right-back or centre-half made a huge impression on Town fans in the 1-0 home victory over Barnsley in April, the match which turned out to be Mick McCarthy’s last in charge of the Blues.
The 19-year-old subsequently featured as a late sub in the 4-0 away win at Reading but hasn’t appeared for the senior side since and has been in and out of the U23s this season.
"I think he played and then he was left out on form, and that’s from the U23s lads,” Hurst said. "Then he’s been injured and he came back and is injured and is actually ill today.
"So he’s certainly not realistically been in contention for a place in the squad for some time in all honesty.
"Barry’s got a lot of good attributes, he’s got an enthusiasm to him but I do think he probably fits that category that I’ve spoken about of people who maybe got some action when perhaps that was through circumstance rather than really being ready to make that step.
"I understand that on his debut he had everyone speaking about him but even in that game he had to come off because he couldn’t last the game.
"Barry will keep working away when he’s back and has got rid of his illness and injury, and we’ll see how he goes.”