Striker Connor Wickham is out of Sunday’s derby at Norwich after suffering a thigh injury during Wednesday’s reserves defeat to Spurs. Worse news for the Blues is that central defender Gareth McAuley has undergone surgery on his achilles tendinitis problem and will be out of action for two months.

Keane said: “We’ve had a disappointing week with injuries. Gareth McAuley’s had an operation, he’ll be out for a number of months, and Connor Wickham’s picked up a thigh problem in the reserves and he’ll be out for a couple of weeks.

“We needed a couple of new faces and we’re delighted to bring in a recognised right-back in Gianni Zuiverloon and I think Rory Fallon will give us something a little bit different in terms of an aerial threat, which is something I think we’ve lacked all season.”

The Blues boss says he was looking for an additional big striker even before Wickham suffered his injury: “We’ve been short of players. I’ve been saying since pre-season that if we were to have a good season we would need a bit of luck with injuries but the way things have panned out over the last month or two, with serious injuries to important players for us, we felt we needed to add to the squad.”

Keane feels that New Zealander Fallon adds to his striking options: “I think sometimes when balls come into the box we don’t have anyone available who goes and attacks the ball, whether that’s in the starting XI or on the bench. Rory will hopefully give us that, but we want to be fair to the boy as well and not expect miracles from him. It’s up to the other players to try and help him out.”

Defender Tom Eastman is out for about a week with the groin injury he suffered at Hull, while Mark Kennedy (hamstring) and Luke Hyam (hamstring) remain on the sidelines. Defender Darren O’Dea has been back in Scotland this week with his pregnant girlfriend but is expected to be back for Sunday’s game at Norwich.

Photo: Action Images

GetInTheGameScowcrof added 10:58 - Nov 26 Gutted for Mac, he's been our one outstanding player this season. As for Wickham, not a bad thing, he'd probably get sent off against the scum.
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crazyblue added 10:59 - Nov 26 I think im gonna go shopping Sunday lunch time! God knows what the budgies are going to do to us now without our key defender. This is bad bad news for us. Keane cant seem to motivate the players, which really worries me cos you can be sure that Lambert will have the budgies right up for it......! I can see a 3 - 0 defeat coming our way...!
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NorthblueBen added 10:59 - Nov 26 A good kick in the teeth, did not want to hear that news
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moomoosereni added 11:01 - Nov 26 My sources were right about mac then, which i was told is 8 weeks. Wickham a shame he cant be used sunday, but perhaps gives fallon a chance to show if hes worth the punt.
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whippet added 11:01 - Nov 26 Said exactly that on a previous post. if he played Wickham and Peters,one of them was bound to pick up an injury.
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Seasonticketsteve added 11:08 - Nov 26 The way Wickham has played this season its not a big loss anyway, gives Priskin, Scotland & Fallon a chance to stake their claim. I had a feeling when we played the reserves the other day Wickham would pick up an injury, I have a feeling its a rouse and he is signed, sealed and ready to be delivered to Tottenham on the 1st of January, shame really. As for the local derby, Macca is a big loss as he has been since he has been out, In Delaney and Smith we have two capable defenders though and with O'Dea (as long as his wife doesnt give birth) and now Zuverloon the other side, its a defence that should be able to shut Norwich out. Now is the time to forgot about the Keane situation, push that to one side till Monday and get behind the Town, I think if we play to our strengths, pass it round and more importantly go two upfront we can come away from Carrow Road with something. COME ON YOU BLUES, DO IT FOR THE FANS!!!

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jas0999 added 11:16 - Nov 26 Hopefully people can now understand why Roy signed Fallon! It's all about having enough fit players! this is really bad news. Two top players out. Still we have Priskin and Scotland, but with O'Dea in Glasgow our defence looks very very weak!
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onlyone added 11:17 - Nov 26 So its confirmed then, the youth players i overheard last night were right :-( Wickhams luck at the moment seems to be against him, a bad injury at the start of the season to his ankle another one with his own player taking him out in training and then getting hurt in the reserves match! Well they say bad luck comes in 3's so that his his 3rd so done and dusted now! I still feel he will have a big say in what happens to us this season! And thats a massive blow for us with Macca !!!!!

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itfc1981 added 11:17 - Nov 26 Yesterday's hope Fallon/Wickham partnership, has turned into today's despair! Matron hand me my revolver going for a walk in the woods.
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Ipswich24 added 11:30 - Nov 26 Mcaulay news is dreadfull really is he wins everything and is so commanding can things get much worse!
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Karlosfandangal added 11:31 - Nov 26 Beginning of the season we were all saying Promotion was possible with a 20 a season man in Wickham,. Funny how the season has panned out so far (not) Finger crossed for the results to go our way and by Wednesday we will be in a Semi and just out side of the play off's
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Ipswich24 added 11:35 - Nov 26 And also to play Wickham in afriendly days before the biggest game of season is an absolutly disgraceful decision it makes me wonder was he playing for tottenhams benefit Keane OUT
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RetroBlue added 11:46 - Nov 26 How bloody daft is it that Town decide to play CW in a meaningless friendly , only to get "injured"(is he?).....do I detect that Evans is about to sell Wickham to Spurs in the Jan window and we have got Fallon in as a replacement ??
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Legend added 11:54 - Nov 26 I did say that about one of them getting injured! No need to play two key players on Wednesday and the stupid decision has cost us now!
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Surco72 added 11:57 - Nov 26 Poo Poo Poo ...this could be really bad for us Mac has been holding a very fragile defence together for a long time .Agree with others why was Wickham a young player we dont want to wear out playing another mid week game ? This is going to be another long season for us looking over our shoulders
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PSGBlue added 12:03 - Nov 26 Seasonticketsteve - many a true word said in jest. It could indeed be a rouse with Wickham. Scores against Spurs in the reserves earlier in the week. Then a fee agreed for January followed by loan signing in the form of Fallon with a fee also agreed for January and then Wickham is declared injured. He will now be either injured or not hurried back until Jan - in time to go. Hopefully keane will have been shown the door by then and a new manager can spend some of the transfer money wisely!

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wisebluey added 12:07 - Nov 26 GAME OVER mac out for months means no playoffs this season ... simple as
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im_marcacus added 12:10 - Nov 26 With MAC out, and Eastman, who the hell is playing right side of CB? Can't play Delaney and Smith together, has Zuiverlon played at CB for Brom? Need Norris + Leadbitter to have the game of their lives on Sunday, I feel a bit sick...
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Legend added 12:17 - Nov 26 Our squad seems a lot worse than the one Magilton put together! At least we had Dos Santos, Stead, Pabs, Haynes, Rhodes, Walters e.t.c. Now we have Priskin, Scotland, Fallon and the soon to be departed Wickham. Not very good is it?
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johnson added 12:26 - Nov 26 The comments about not playing Wickham & Peters in a friendly are incredible. Maybe the whole 1st team squad shouldn't train the week before any game .......but there's a game every week so that would mean they'd never train.........and before anyone says that training sessions and practice games are different things you need to get out to the training ground. Unless you train and practice at real game intensity there is no value in training

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BlueVelvet added 12:28 - Nov 26 So 'Grandad' moves to central defence to replace big Mac and we get our new man on the right - sorted!!??
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ITFC1985 added 12:29 - Nov 26 dissapointed to lose McAuley before this weekend he's been probably our best player, but i hope Keane sticks Smith in to partner Delaney, not too disappointed about Wickham he's been poor all season and never looks like hes going to score. so no great loss. Hope Fallon proves me and everyone else wrong and bangs in a hattrick lol COME ON YOU BLUES!!
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clive_baker added 12:30 - Nov 26 There is a depressing headline if ever I saw one. Shame about Mac, was playing very well indeed. I hope Smith and Delaney can forge a strong partnership with O'dea at LB and Zuiverloon at RB - could be a very good defencive unit with Fulup behind them. As for Wickham, cannot understand why he is risked for a nothing friendly just days before our biggest game of the season thus far. Seems crazy. I suspect it was for Tottenhams benefit, not ours which suggests its a done deal. A BBC shop window would have been a good opportunity otherwise. So with back 5 i mentioned i would go with front 6 of Norris, Leadbitter, Livermore, Townsend, Priskin and Scotland. Edwards and Fallon on the bench to come on if required. We can still do these budgies.

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greenkingtone added 12:34 - Nov 26 itfc 1981: Take two bullets. I'm coming with you!
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bluearmy4life added 12:43 - Nov 26 What a kick in the teeth. Priskin and scotland to start with fallon coming on as a sub. Roy you have to play two up front if we are to have any chance of coming away with a win. I agree with a previous post are midfield have to work there socks off on Sunday and so does Roy in selecting the right 11 with the best tactics you can possible to give us town fans something to cheer about of which you owe it to us!!!!!

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