Blues boss Paul Lambert says Toto Nsiala is doing well as he continues his rehabilitation from the hamstring injury he suffered in the summer, the centre-half having played his third U23s game as Gerard Nash’s side were beaten 3-1 by Charlton at Portman Road last night.
"He’s done well,” Lambert said when quizzed on the former Shrewsbury man’s progress. "He’s been out for just short of two months. He obviously did the injury in Germany.
"He’s got some game-time under his belt. I thought last night he did fine for us. He’s doing alright.”
Also involved against the Addicks was on-loan winger Anthony Georgiou, who Lambert says needed a match having made only five senior sub appearances since joining the Blues from Spurs last month.
"Anthony I think is a big talent, that was just to give him a run-out, he’s been part of the first team and will continue to do that for us this weekend,” Lambert explained.
"Toto’s still doing the rehab side of it and getting games under his belt, but his time will come and once he gets the chance he’s got to show us what he can do.”
Luke Garbutt was also in the team which was beaten by Charlton, having played the full 90 minutes as he returned after his knee injury at the MK Dons last Tuesday before being an unused sub at Gillingham on Saturday.
"He got 90 minutes at the MK Dons, I had a feeling that on adrenalin alone he’d get through it,” he added.
"And that was why I left him out against Gillingham because he and Emyr [Huws], I had a feeling that [they would need a break], and that's why I changed it. But I knew they’d come into the reckoning again for Saturday.”
Regarding longer-term absentees Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears, who are both out with knee injuries, Lambert continued: "They’re doing great, the two of them. It’s seven months for Freddie, I think. He’s doing great. Hopefully he’ll be training in the not too distant future.
"Bish is doing really well as well. They’re two big players for us who will hopefully contribute before the season is out.”
Asked whether they're close to involvement in the U23s, he added: "That’s not my domain, the physios and the doctors will look after them that way and once they tell me that the lads think they're ready as well, then I’ll judge it from there.
"But they’ll definitely need some game time in the U23s, that’s normal but the important thing is they’re coming back fit.”
Bishop, who suffered his injury in Germany in pre-season, was expected to be back next month, while Sears, who tore his ACL in February, had been pencilled in for a November return.