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Broadhead Available For Southampton, Clarke Could Play If Needed - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Kieran McKenna says Nathan Broadhead will be able to play some minutes at Southampton on Saturday if required, while Harry Clarke could be involved in an emergency with everyone else also having trained this week.

Wales international Broadhead is yet to be involved this season having suffered a hamstring injury early in pre-season, while right-back Clarke underwent double achilles surgery following the end of 2023/24.

"Pretty much everyone’s been involved with training in some part this week,” McKenna said.

"We’ve got a few players managing different knocks and different issues but everyone’s played some part this week.

"Some are a little bit further behind who have missed pre-season, but the group’s looking really healthy.”

Regarding Broadhead and Clarke specifically, he added: "Both have trained this week. Nathan’s a little bit further along than Harry. I think from a physical point of view, he would be able to play some minutes this weekend, which is a big positive to have those options.

"Harry’s still a little bit further behind but he’s trained in the majority of the sessions this week, so if we were in big, big need he probably could be able to get on the pitch for some minutes this weekend.

"But we’re pretty strong in that position, so it gives us good depth now and we know we’re in a period where there’s not that many games at the moment, so it’s a period for us to train and develop the squad and go at one league game a week 100 per cent.

"But there’s going to come times over the course of the season where the schedule gets busier or we’re shorter on numbers now and we’re going to need everyone to make contributions and it’s great to have those options.”

McKenna says released defender Janoi Donacien remains at the club and is currently undergoing treatment for a minor knock picked up while away with St Lucia.

"JD is just back from international duty and he’s got a small ankle injury,” he said. "He’s fine, but he’s still with us receiving some treatment and looking at the right next steps now.

"As I’ve said many times, a top, top player, outstanding person and I think there’s a big demand for his services, so we’ll try and help him make the right decision for the next step of his career.”

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