Midfielders Kevin Bru and Stephen Hunt will be available for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough but striker David McGoldrick isn’t yet ready to make his return from his thigh injury.

Bru suffered a knee injury at Leeds a week ago and missed the game against Brentford, while Hunt played for the U21s on Monday having been out with a hamstring problem.

Kevin’s trained today and he’s fine,” manager Mick McCarthy said. “He’s back, thankfully.

“In fact we’ve got most of them back. We’ve only got Luke Hyam, Noel Hunt and Darren Ambrose now on the injury table. Things have picked up on that score.”

Hyam and Hunt have knee injuries, with the latter expected to be out for the rest of the season, while Ambrose has a hamstring problem.

McGoldrick is back in training and McCarthy has pencilled him in for involvement in Tuesday’s home game with Bolton.

“Saturday will come a bit soon,” he added. “He’s had two or three days training fully with the squad.

“It’s five weeks on Saturday since he did it and I don’t think two or three days’ full training is conducive to playing at full tilt at Middlesbrough.

“But he was certainly better and sharper today and I’d guess Bolton and Watford are possibilities.”

The Town boss is pleased to have Stephen Hunt available again after he played the full 90 minutes as the U21s beat Colchester 2-0 at Playford Road on Monday.

“It was typical Hunty, he went and played at left-back and did it with no fuss,” McCarthy continued. “He just went and played there and played well. It was great to see him out there.”

He says Town have missed Hunt and the energy he brings to the team: “If you haven’t got great results every week you can say we’ve missed Stephen Hunt or David McGoldrick and everybody else.

“You do miss him and his banter and his personality because he does help lift the team. But he’s back now, which is good news.”

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 14:45 - Mar 12 Good news. Let's grab a point at Boro, beat Bolton and see what happens at Watford. That would put us in a good position going into the international break.
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MaySixth added 14:45 - Mar 12 Good news. Let's grab a point at Boro, beat Bolton and see what happens at Watford. That would put us in a good position going into the international break.
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hoppy added 14:48 - Mar 12 We've had good results with Stephen Hunt in the side this season, so hopefully him being back will be a good omen and we can bring 3 points back from Middlesbrough to counter the poor return of points from games we've been on TV.
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theipswichman added 14:52 - Mar 12 Good about hunt, something a bit different and he does occaisonally put in some decent performances but very disapointing were going to miss didz again, please get him back and finally see creativity return to the side!
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Lightningboy added 15:13 - Mar 12 Bit fed up with the let's grab a point attitude tbh..Boro don't score many goals,we should and need to start going out with the let's get 3 points attitude...going for a draw more often than not means us losing 1-0. We have to be far more positive at this level,otherwise we'll spend another 13 years where we are.
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rickw added 15:14 - Mar 12 Important thing vs Boro is to stop them playing out from the back, so I'd give Varney a start - plenty of talent elsewhere in this team though. GerkenParrChambersBerraMingsSkuseBishopBruSearsMurphyVarney Substitutes: Bialkowski   Smith   Clarke   Chaplow   Tabb   Anderson   Wood
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itfc1981 added 15:21 - Mar 12 S Hunt one of the few player Mick trusts with 433 hope its a good Omen for the future. COYB three jammy wins and we will be on for top 2 again.
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itfc1981 added 15:23 - Mar 12 We all want Chambers at CD but there is no point hoping for it. Mick wont drop Smith in a month of Sundays.
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 15:37 - Mar 12 Come on! Someone mention Rhodes, dos Santos or Williams. Let's see if we can make it one mention per story for the rest of the season.
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big_gaz67 added 15:47 - Mar 12 If Stephen Hunt is missed for "is banter and his personality because he does help lift the team" then why hasn't he been in a tracksuit helping the management team for the last few games,,,,,,
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TimmyH added 16:25 - Mar 12 Good news that we've got some players back or near to back...as basically we need them! Hunt will hopefully bring something to the table although by and large he is past his best. A return from McG might just give us a bit of impetus attack wise if he can start a 'clean slate' for his season and give it his all. Agreed we should not be looking for draws we have to start picking up WINS...unfortunately our form over the last month or so has but undue pressure on. When is this QUALITY signing coming in for the midfield?!? still waiting.

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Seasider added 16:31 - Mar 12 Once again Mc G not quite ready,hope he will be in the squad for Tuesday though as does Mick. Surprised no comment on here about piece in Anglian saying that Marcus Evans will not be allowing Manager to get any further players on loan unless we are still in contention for play-offs after Watford game which would give Mr Mc Carthy 5 days to get somebody when all the best have been taken. Strange;but if true explains why no big signings made in Jan window especially as it would mean that ME stood better chance of recouping his outlay if Premiership football achieved.

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jas0999 added 16:54 - Mar 12 Seasider - if true it certainly is strange. We were second in January and ME didn't bother to strengthen then. So, wouldn't be surprised if he vetoes transfers now. We desperately need an attack minded midfield player.
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Surco72 added 16:56 - Mar 12 What team should be Bart Parr, Chambo , Smith , Berra , Mings Bru , Skuse, Hunt Bishop Murphy , Sears So obvious it hurts, what it will be Gerken Chambo, Smith, Berra , Mings Ando, Skuse, Bru, Tabb Murphy , Wood We made no signings in January as MM stated he was happy with his squad and could get no better in , he didn't foresee the loss in form or allow for injuries over such a busy period with a small squad , or look to really kick on from the great position we had got into and we are now panic loaning and claiming we are really missing every player that has been out injured Skuse, Hyam , Dids , Hunt x 2

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ericclacton added 16:56 - Mar 12 Bowsie wowsie feetball marvellous!!
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Surco72 added 16:58 - Mar 12 So obvious I added Hunt in to make it 12 players !!!
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Green_Army added 17:06 - Mar 12 Bumped into Hunt at Cheltenham yesterday, really nice guy! Can tell he is capable of lifting the spirit of the team! Hoping we can go to the Riverside as underdogs and upset the odds to gain 3 crucial points.
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paulthebluealien added 17:17 - Mar 12 The same people celebrating McGoldrick's return are those bashing him a few weeks ago. He's vital to us - if you didn't see that before you see it now.
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bluesince84 added 17:17 - Mar 12 Excellent, they'll all be on the bench behind tabb
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1RWR added 18:07 - Mar 12 bluesince84.............you really have got it in for tabby haven't you! Poor sod hasn't kicked a ball since Saturday & already he's done something wrong!
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richnblue added 18:46 - Mar 12 Drop Smith I'd say. Other teams have identified him as a weak link and a rest as that prior to xmas would do him some good. Interesting comments in regard to Jan window. I would of gone with some intent, just as Derby have.. Along with others I might add. Could be our missed opportunity.. Cant understand the thought of not spending £5Million to get us across the line, not as bad a risk given the dross we have had to put up with in previous seasons.

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carsey added 18:54 - Mar 12 Not sure we need any more players even with all the injuries we have had I believe that if MM was a better tactician we would have been okay
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bluesince84 added 19:21 - Mar 12 1RWR - a fair point and i will take the criticism. What can i say, im incensed. My real problem is not necessarily Tabb (although think its obv i dont rate 1 good game in 15 as a pre requisite to start) The problem i have really is the message it sends to other players. Others know, ie parr, sears, and a certain goalkeeper, that with only a couple of less than excellent performances, they get dropped. I would even argue that sears and Parr get dropped despite great performances consistently, and Tabb stays on regardless, first name on the team sheet in fact. What is this telling those who put in consistent great performances and get the shoe? There are mumblings of discontent from within the squad itself on current evidence and on pitch arguments. This wasnt happening before MM got stubborn as he is now with his selections Further, imagine your sears, or parr. Youve just put in a terrific display, scored a goal, or offered a threat up the fanks, youve done your job, the crowd is cheering your name and you've earnt it, the next game, your on the bench. You then look at your teammate who isnt as consistent as you, what does that tell you? what is the incentive to do well if the price that is payed is a place on the bench. - just my opinion and i will accept i may be wrong, unlike others on here my friend.

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afrodids added 19:49 - Mar 12 All I've got to say is Bent & Ince!!
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blue7579 added 20:43 - Mar 12 Hunt couldn't help management from the bench, he couldn't be trusted not to get over excited and cause himself further injury. Glad he is back, he's a pain to any defence/midfield and bru is the first midfielder on my team sheet.
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