x

Joe Waiting on Injuries - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Joe Royle admits he has no firm idea of his side for Saturday's home game with Wolves due to numerous injuries and Fabian Wilnis's suspension. Owen Garvan, Ian Westlake, Sam Parkin and Jay McEveley are all out, while Jimmy Juan, Kevin Horlock and Nicky Forster are doubts.

Forster and Horlock have knee problems and Juan has foot and calf injuries. Forster is considered the most likely to be fit.

Irish midfielder Garvan played 50 minutes of Wednesday's FA Youth Cup win at Leeds but needs another game before he returns to the first team squad. Westlake still has the foot injury he picked up in the reserves last week.

Parkin is out for three to four months with a broken ankle, while McEveley has had his loan spell at Portman Road ended after tearing a medial ligament in Tuesday's defeat at Cardiff. The Blackburn man will undergo an operation at the weekend and Town will look for a new loan left-back when the transfer window opens.

One player who won't be joining the Blues in January is Charlton's Jonatan Johansson. Royle says that the weekend newspaper link with the Finnish international was simply someone seeing him talking to Alan Curbishley during last week's reserve game at the Valley and putting two-and-two together. The Town manager added: "There are no players available for loan at Charlton, not Jonatan Johnasson, Matt Holland or anybody else."

Fabian Wilnis's appeal against his red card at Cardiff was turned down by the Disciplinary Commission earlier today and the Dutchman serves his one-match suspension this weekend.

Keeper Lewis Price is OK to play against Glenn Hoddle's side despite his finger injury and suffering a knock to his knee at Ninian Park.

Royle says the injury situation means he cannot yet settle on a line-up: "I can't even think about a side for Saturday. I have a framework in my mind but there are too many injuries for me to check.

"But I don't want to keep going on about injuries. When we had a full complement we met up with Reading twice and they're easily the best team in the division."

Better news is that Adam Proudlock is now considered fully fit after his knee injury and looks likely to start against his old club. Youngster Billy Clarke is again in Royle's plans, the Town boss having watched the Irishman score the winner for the youths at Leeds.

Royle expects Wolves to be somewhere in the mix come May: "I think they've found it hard to carry on from the wonderful run last season, but with their squad strength I would expect them to be up there at the end, at least in the play-offs."

Glenn Hoddle is without Scotland striker Kenny Miller who is one of a number of players struck by illness: "Kenny was due to come in and train with the lads on Monday but he went down with a bout of flu over the weekend.

"It's that horrible stage of the season where these things seem to go around. A couple of the other lads have got it as well. "

Hoddle has a lengthy injury list but is expecting one or two players to return soon: "Carl Cort is a few weeks away and Mark Davies is progressing quickly from his hernia operation.

"Paul Ince has been pencilled in to play for the reserves against Everton in a couple of weeks and so, all being well, they should all be ready for the Christmas period."

Full-back Mark Clyde and midfielder Rohan Ricketts are close to a first team recall after ankle injuries and played for the reserves earlier this week.

Saturday's referee is Keith Stroud from Hampshire who took control of Town's 2-1 defeat at QPR in August. Stroud has shown an extraordinary 77 yellow and three red cards in 16 games this season.

What to read next:

Grant Talks With Huddersfield Ongoing
Talks between Blues first-team coach Lee Grant and Huddersfield Town regarding their management vacancy are ongoing, TWTD understands.
Norwich Target Long-Serving Town Academy Coach Klug
Long-serving Blues academy coach, former assistant boss and three-time caretaker-manager Bryan Klug is being targeted by Norwich City, TWTD understands.
Town XI to Face Lowestoft in Pre-Season
A Town XI will play a pre-season friendly against Lowestoft Town at Crown Meadow on Saturday 5th July (KO 3pm).
Chelsea Strong Favourites to Sign Delap
Chelsea are now the strong favourites to sign Blues striker Liam Delap, TWTD understands.
Chaplin: The Club is in a Much Better Place Than it Was a Year Ago
Town will return to the Championship in a much better place than they left it a year ago, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Phillips: McKenna Made Me Believe in Myself Again
On-loan Blues midfielder Kalvin Phillips, whose spell at Portman Road is up now the season is at an end, has said his goodbyes and says Town manager Kieran McKenna made him believe in himself again.
Luongo: Together We Have Created Incredible Memories
Exiting Town midfielder Massimo Luongo has thanked everyone at Portman Road having created “incredible” memories together during his time at the club.
Town Bookies' Early Favourites For Championship Title
Town are the bookies’ early favourites to win the 2025/26 Championship title.
Town Coach Grant Linked With Terriers Job
Blues first-team coach Lee Grant is reportedly among the options to take over as manager at League One Huddersfield Town.
Enciso: Thanks For Supporting Me and For the Love
Departing loanee Julio Enciso has said his farewells and thanked everyone at Portman Road following his half-season spell at the club.