x

Garbutt Back in Training - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Lambert has revealed midfielder or full-back Luke Garbutt is back in training following the knee injury which has sidelined the on-loan Everton man since his blistering two goals in two games start to his time at Portman Road.

Lambert says he’s not yet sure whether the 26-year-old is ready to return to his squad ahead of Saturday's home game against Doncaster but has done well at Playford Road in recent days.

"He’s trained for the last couple of days, he trained fully the other day and did really well, so he’s not too far from it,” Lambert said.

"I’m happy he’s back, he started the season fantastically for us. I’m glad he’s, he’ll be another really good player in different positions.”

Also back in action this week were Toto Nsiala and Ben Folami, who played in Monday’s U23s defeat to Nottingham Forest following hamstring and achilles injuries respectively.

"They’ve done fine, the lads,” Lambert added. "The squad is getting stronger and lads coming back from injury is a bonus.

"Maybe not quite up to speed for first-team level at the minute but the great thing is that they’re back out there and that’s the pleasing thing.”

Striker Will Keane was also involved in that match but Lambert isn’t convinced the former Hull City man is ready for his first team yet.

"I’m not sure. He’s done OK. He had a really bad injury at Sheffield United. I’ll wait and see how he is,” he continued.

Lambert says Emyr Huws is still continuing his progress having played his first full competitive 90 minutes against Tottenham's U21s in the Leasing.com Trophy.

"He’s doing well, he’s doing alright, he trained again the other day. We just have to get him through games at the minute," the Blues boss said.

"He’s doing really well and hopefully he does have a sustained period where he can keep going Saturday, Saturday, Saturday or Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.

"I think he’s still a wee bit off that just because of the time he’s been out but he’s doing really, really well.”

Lambert is still waiting on one or two players who were away on international duty: "A couple of lads are still not back yet, so they’ll comeback tomorrow and we’ll see how we are.”

Among those who has been away on international duty is Armando Dobra, who won two caps with the Albanian U19s.

Asked whether the 18-year-old, who impressed in the defeat of the Spurs youngsters prior to joining up with the Albania squad, is close to a League One debut, Lambert said: "He did [impress] but you can’t put too much pressure on him. He’s got a helluva way to go to get through a lot of them and to get in the side.

"But what he has shown me is that I can trust him, same as Idris [El Mizouni] I can trust him to play first-team games. But it’s a big ask to put him right in when lads are playing really well themselves.”

The Town manager was pleased to see Jordan Roberts score twice in that game: "It was great, I’m delighted for Jordan because he’s had a hard time, he maybe beats himself up too much when he doesn’t score.

"I’m delighted that he got the two goals. Even the other night, we played some really good stuff with lads that have just come back from injury, lads that haven’t played, young kids. I was happy with the way the team played.”

Meanwhile, he says trialist George Heaven, who has featured for the U23s in their last two fixtures, won’t be offered a contract.

"George went back. I only saw him a couple of times,” he said. "Gerard Nash and Chris Hogg were leading him, so they made the decision.

"I saw the kids play and the lad’s away back to try and get a career somewhere, but he did well when he came in, but was he going to be good enough going forward? I don’t know."

What to read next:

McKenna: Davis Limping Pretty Heavily
Town boss Kieran McKenna says left-back Leif Davis was limping heavily following tonight’s 3-3 draw at Hull City.
McKenna: What a Wonderful Position to Be In
Town boss Kieran McKenna reflected on the wonderful position his side is in following tonight’s 3-3 draw at Hull City.
Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Town moved level on points with second-placed Leeds United following a pulsating 3-3 draw with Hull City at the MKM Stadium having been in front three times. Returning striker George Hirst put the Blues in front in the 19th minute but the Tigers levelled on 40 through Ozan Tufan before Omari Hutchinson put Town back ahead with the first of two brilliant goals. However, Hull equalised again through Liam Delap in the 56th minute, then Hutchinson’s second put the Blues ahead again, however, Tigers sub Noah Ohio grabbed a point for the East Yorkshire side with three minutes remaining and the Blues were unable to take late chances to win it.
Hull City 3-3 Ipswich Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Hull City 1-2 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
Goals from George Hirst and Omari Hutchinson have given Town a 2-1 half-time lead over Hull City at the MKM Stadium.
Hirst and Burns Start at Hull
George Hirst and Wes Burns both start for the Blues in this evening’s live-on-Sky game at Hull City.
Hull City v Ipswich Town - Chatroom Open
Join us in the chatroom to discuss the game as it unfolds with hundreds of other Town fans.
Hull City v Ipswich Town - Predictions
Have you predicted the Hull score yet? Sixty per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 27 per cent a draw and 13 per cent predicting a home win, but what do you think?
Leeds Thrashed at QPR
The battle for promotion at the top of the Championship took another dramatic turn this evening when Leeds United were thrashed 4-0 at QPR, a result which confirms Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League and puts the Blues in the box seat for the second automatic spot.
Gilmartin to Continue Interim Irish Role
Town’s head of goalkeeping Rene Gilmartin will continue his role on Republic of Ireland interim head coach John O’Shea’s staff for the June internationals, the FAI has announced.