Skipper Grant Leadbitter is a doubt ahead of Saturday’s home game against Blackpool with a hip injury suffered at Birmingham on Wednesday. The Blues are short of central midfielders with Jimmy Bullard still feeling the effects of his recent illness.

Jewell said: “Grant’s a doubt. He got a knock on his hip, that he hurt a couple of weeks ago, right at the end of the game.”

If Leadbitter misses out, Andy Drury, Luke Hyam and Josh Carson will be the only fit centre midfield players with Jewell feeling that Jimmy Bullard is still some way from himself: “Jimmy has been ill but has trained in the last couple of days.

“I don’t really want to put him in but he might have to play some part because we are struggling at the minute. Jimmy hasn’t been well and it’s taken an awful lot out of him.”

Lee Bowyer is definitely out with his groin problem and Damien Delaney also misses out with his foot injury, although the problem isn’t too serious: “Damo’s injured, it’s not as bad as we first thought but he’s not fit.”

Photo: Action Images

Nunn_the_Wiser added 13:40 - Jan 13 Cricket score tomorrow. Jewell's last game, hopefully.
0

Lightningboy added 13:42 - Jan 13 Amazing how many people get "injured" when a team's struggling. Leadbitter won't be missed.
0

Surco72 added 13:49 - Jan 13 I am not a Leadbitter fan but thought he was our best player on Weds and looked like the player who first came to the club so will be missed . That said all the arm chair managers who want all our youth playing you may get your wish with Cresswell,Smith,Hyam,Carson,Martin and Jet all starting ? My Team would be McCarthy Edwards,Sonko,Smith,Cresswell Martin,Drury,Hyam,Carson Scotland ,Chopra Wright,Ainsley,Bullard,Murphy,Jet A midfield full of energy and running ,give it a blast Paul it cant do any worse

0

whittonite added 13:50 - Jan 13 cassonova crow, mate you've got a short memory, it took a few games for any one to start calling carlos a right back,though for me he has been our best if not one of the leagues best in that position,he's like a flippin leech
0

saffronblue added 13:51 - Jan 13 Surco, I would be happy with that team but would put Jet ahead of Chops at the moment
0

Karlosfandangal added 13:54 - Jan 13 If Leadbitter was our best player on the night why did Martin get the TWTD MOTM for Wednesday ?
0

casanovacrow added 13:56 - Jan 13 I'm not saying he's a natural in that position as he goes for walkies, but in the grand scheme of things he hasn't played bad there and he's played as right back for club and country for countless games. Its like saying Richard Naylor wasnt a centreback or a striker, He was both. He is in no way the reason most of our goals get conceeded. That is down to CB and in my opinion a central midfield that drops soo deep and doesn't tackle enough.

0

Karlosfandangal added 13:58 - Jan 13 Why dont they play Murphy up front with Scotland and Martin on the left and Carson on the right. Hyam and Drury in the middle
0

blueherts added 13:59 - Jan 13 Errr Drury and Hyam wont be any worst Carson is a wide player , not central . Bullard is off - they have not even said what is wrong with him - his pending court case probably . If we win tomorrow it will be the result of the day - and pronb our season - team is shot for confidence and I have a feeling we may win - backs to the wall and all that - Just put some fuel and after burners into the JET !!!

0

casanovacrow added 13:59 - Jan 13 Karlosfandangal - answer is : Paul Jewell
0

kerryblue added 14:02 - Jan 13 Things are looking up.
0

osborne1nil added 14:07 - Jan 13 Pazelle, good shout on Peters who is a midfielder and is only 24 and always had plenty of running and effort in him, another player that has not been given a fair chance by PJ. @whittonite - Edwards one of best right backs in the league, your having a laugh. As a RB he is awful and regularly fails to get back in time from his runs up the pitch leaving the CB having to come across and cover and exposing space in defence. Midfielder yes, RB rubbish.

0

MickMillsTash added 14:08 - Jan 13 Martin was MOM on Wednesday but Leadbitter had a very good game No-one was awful though Jet really did not get into the game 5 at the back- None of our players have played that formation before so I would not risk more confusion If Leadbitter plays I would go 451- Hyam sitting to allow the wide men to get forward and support. At least that way we may get some midfielders beyond our forwards and maybe ask some questions of their defence. Drop JET. Blackpool look good on the counter attack and the way teams run through our midfield I think we will need some extra presence If Leadbitter does not play I have no idea- I thought Hyam was lost in a 4 at Hull and a centre mid of Drury Hyam has Div2 written all over it. Bleak

0

whittonite added 14:18 - Jan 13 @osborne,sorry mate will have to disagree with you,unless you hav'nt noticed carlos is one of the 3 or four mainstays.and as for not getting back if carlos does wander off up to attack it is down to his team mates to cover him! i think thats why we get caught on the break so often
0

NorwichBlue_138 added 14:19 - Jan 13 @whittonite - in the politest way possible what planet are you watching Carlos Edwards from?! "though for me he has been our best if not one of the leagues best in that position" - are you mad?! apart from the odd decent forward run and long shot, as a WINGER (which is what he is at heart) tends to do, he ambles around leaving huge gaps for Sonko and others to cover on the right, and in terms of heading he's dreadful. the number of long balls, especially from goal kicks, that he ducks under or jumps feebly towards is pathetic for an alleged defender. if you don't believe me look at Barnsley's 2nd goal in the 5-3 game. had a yard headstart on the attacker and still made no attempt to stop the header. and as far as being the league's best, dream on....

0

tractorboy2434 added 14:37 - Jan 13 That's a worry then, will anyone notice that he is'nt playing.
0

osborne1nil added 14:39 - Jan 13 @whittonite - the reason he has been a regular is that PJ has failed to get anybody else in to this position, not because he is good there. If you read all the posts on this sight for the last couple of years you will find that is the feelings of most fans that Town have badly needed a RB. I personally would rather see Peters there than Edwards as he can jump and does cover back better. If you are played as a RB, you are expected to cover that position on the pitch and not expect other players to move out of their position all the time to cover him. Cresswell manages to make runs up the pitch and put crosses in too by rarely is he not back in his place when needed.

0

nerdys added 14:43 - Jan 13 Off With His Head...
0

MickMillsTash added 14:47 - Jan 13 Carlos Edwards can go on as many attacks as he likes but the team have to cover when he does. Midfield, centre back - whoever- the fact that he does go wandering and often no one covers or no one covers for the covering player is down to Jewell to sort out. Either drop Edwards or organise the team to cover. This is not a new problem and one that we should not be talking about any more.

0

whittonite added 14:49 - Jan 13 in my world no ones perfect, you seem to forget that sonko is quite capable of digging himself into a hole.if pj tells carlos to make a few runs or make himself available when in posseion he is following orders. i'm pretty sure he would rather be back in his familiar position.cresswell is a good player but he also has been left exposed at time.if i was playing and i saw right or left back pushing forward i'm going to look to exploit that space if no one covers!we are what we are

0

Tractastic added 14:49 - Jan 13 Totally agree with MickMillsTash without Leadbitter the midfield look Div 2.Players just arent good enough at this level so you can add lack of good central midfielders to the dross Jewell has assembled. Shambles.
0

whittonite added 14:51 - Jan 13 @osborne. i think the dutch call it total football!!
0

Surco72 added 15:08 - Jan 13 Karlosfand... the main reason that Martin got man of the match is that he scored and the majority that vote on TWTD match reports dont go to the games ,so the goalscorer or keeper get it in the majority of games . Martin did have a good game but in my opinion Leadbitter led like a captain throughout ,which is a first .
0

Premiertown added 15:28 - Jan 13 Need 23 points to stay up and probably need to win all of the last 3 league games to do it. mmm
0

Surco72 added 15:33 - Jan 13 Coventry and Doncaster both selling their best players will help the cause something we dont have to worry about as they have all been poor !! Dont believe we will be in a relegation fight come the end of the season another mid table bore i fancy
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls