Winger Ryan Fraser will be fit for Saturday’s game at Preston but Daryl Murphy and Jonny Parr are both doubts.

Fraser was subbed in the first half of Town’s 2-0 victory over Burnley on Tuesday with a jarred knee, but manager Mick McCarthy says he’s fine.

“He’s all right, he’s confirmed he’ll be fine for Saturday,” the Blues boss said. “He hasn’t trained, he’s had treatment yesterday and today but that’s with a view to being OK for Saturday.”

Striker Daryl Murphy went off at half-time against the Clarets and McCarthy says he’s more of a concern: “He hasn’t trained he’s got a tight calf and we’ll have to assess him tomorrow. Hopefully he’ll be OK but there’s more of a doubt about him than there is Ryan.”

Full-back or midfielder Jonny Parr played for the U21s against Coventry on Monday, scoring in the 3-0 win, but has subsequently complained of a problem with the thigh which troubled him throughout pre-season.

“Jonny Parr came through that fine but this morning he’s just felt his thigh again,” McCarthy added. “Whether that’s just fatigue after the game or not, I don't know.

“We’ll have to look at it in the morning because he did play and it might just be the aftermath of playing that he’s feeling. Hopefully that’s the case.”

Kevin Bru and Teddy Bishop remain sidelined with hamstring injuries, while Luke Hyam is a longer-term absentee having undergone knee surgery over the summer.

Photo: Action Images

TR11BLU added 14:36 - Aug 20 Happy with this. Great to get Fraser back, Murphy looks back to his 'Donkey days'. Hopefully strikers will get a few on saturday and keep him out of the starting eleven. Shoot me down...........
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Bostonblue added 14:39 - Aug 20 Of course I want our best players fit but I've not been as confident in their replacements for a long time supporting Town especially up front :-))
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Sarge added 14:40 - Aug 20 @TR11BLU Pitman hasn't scored either, is he a donkey too? Honestly some of our fans, it's been 2 games ffs...
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TR11BLU added 14:45 - Aug 20 @ Sarge Take out last season and its been several hundred games. I said it before, the guy wont braek double figures this or any other season. Im hungrily stood by with a large hat...
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ElderGrizzly added 14:48 - Aug 20 @Tr11BLU - Murphy has been carrying an injury for 2 of our last 3 games. I'd suggest your support is anything but "True Blue"
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WindsorBlue added 14:58 - Aug 20 @Tr11BLU If he was any good we would be top of the league....
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battyblue added 15:00 - Aug 20 Great news re Fraser and that means Sears/mcgoldrick/and Pitman firing the bullets our strongest forward line imo at present time.
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DebenBlue added 15:01 - Aug 20 @ TR11 BLUE - I think you'll find Murphy scored 16 goals the season before last as well. Since he has been playing as a striker he has looked like one of the best in this division for the past 2 seasons. He has had a slow start this season, but was also back late from preseason. Judge him in 2 or 3 months time, not after 2 games.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 15:05 - Aug 20 @TU11BLU, what a pathetic, imbecilic comment to make. Daryl Murphy is a fantastic footballer who over the years has offered so much to Ipswich Town - not just goals. His work rate is phenomenal, he roughs up defenders, he brings the midfield into play, and sets up his team mates. I suggest it is not Murphy who is the donkey, but you the ass. Support your team.
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bohslegend added 15:12 - Aug 20 @TR11BLU ignorance and disrespect for a player who has proven his worth to the team over such a long time. He personifies the hunger, the determination and the pride in the jersey that our current squad have in bucket loads. Someone like you obviously has a gripe over something. Weren't you one of the Realists from last year calling for MM's head?
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osborne added 15:15 - Aug 20 Great news about Fraser - looked quite worrying at the time coming off that early in the game. Hope Murphy's isn't serious. At least this season we seem to have cover for these type of problems. Thanks to sensible squad building and development by MM i'd say! Keep up the good work. COYB
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essextractorboy93 added 15:16 - Aug 20 @TU11BLU - Ridiculous comment by a so called "supporter". Pretty sure you're the only person that thinks that way so you can have that opinion all to yourself. Murphy has been quality in the last two seasons and he goes a few games without scoring and he is now a donkey according to you. Just shows that you know nothing if you think that. Like others have said, why don't you support the team instead of coming out with idiotic comments? Good news about Fraser, gives us real balance now with Maitland-Niles on the other wing although Sears does a quality job out there too. Will be a very tough game but we can do it! COYB!

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wkj added 15:19 - Aug 20 With Freddy sears in great form it seems people forget how important a support striker is... Murphy is most likely in the role of support where as Sears is the attacking striker. Murphy is carrying an injury, but just because his name isn't in on the score sheets it doesn't mean he has been useless. He has been there attacking and feeding key passes... if he was "donkey" these passes and attacks wouldn't happen, and you'd be sniveling your t$ts off about Sears too.

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GavTWTD added 15:28 - Aug 20 w12011545 has been banned for a comment on this story, and post removed. Please help us by hitting the "report abuse" button and not responding to the post in question.
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warktheline added 15:30 - Aug 20 Time will tell if Murphy ever manages to replicate last season, but let's not forget up until last season he wasn't setting the division alight with goal, that's not to say he deserves the 'donkey' tag! Personally I don't believe he will hit 20 plus this season, but nevertheless his contribution towards the cause cannot be questioned or doubted.
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GAZ1234 added 15:32 - Aug 20 I agree that Murphy may not have looked as sharp as last year, however, I do feel that he has been receiving special treatment from the opposition defenders - with 2 or three around him from goal kicks etc...... this may have reduced his effectiveness, but it has freed things up for our other players....... we have scored 8 goals by 7 different players. As others have said, HE may not match last years goals total, but the team will certainly score more than last year. All four strikers offer different qualities, this means that Mick can change his approach at any time .....................all's looking good - happy days!

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warktheline added 15:39 - Aug 20 @Gavtwtd, sorry, will do in future, if needed!
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GavTWTD added 15:43 - Aug 20 No problem @warktheline. Certainly looks like trolling from TR11BLU so don't take him seriously.
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samsonblue added 15:53 - Aug 20 just had a look at last year stats for murphy - fairly interesting - I think August - Pld 5 Scored 1 September - Pld 5 Scored 3 October - Pld 3 Scored 3 November - Pld 5 Scored 4 December - Pld 5 Scored 6 So - it would seem that Murphy is a bot of a slow started for the season, and when it gets to Oct-Dec he gets going Just for fullness Jan P5 S1 Feb P5 S3 Mar P6 S2 Apr P6 S2 May P3 S2 So this shows fully what we can expect from Murphs in Oct-Dec!! (Just looked at previous seasons (2011 onwards), and has not scored a league goal before 17th Sept!)

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TimmyH added 15:53 - Aug 20 Never really thought Murphy would replicate last season particularly at his age but can still see him being a worthy squad player and wouldn't be surprised to see him in double digits this season. Re: Parr - certainly an injury prone player (as per Hyam) BUT again when fully fit a good full back (not right midfielder as Mick was playing him towards the end of last season). Fraser - a live wire and no doubt will keep Preston on their toes.

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warktheline added 15:54 - Aug 20 What's quite worrying is J.Parr continued niggles.... It's a real shame, because he adds energy and positivity to the fold.
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dalianwasexciting added 16:33 - Aug 20 Lets be balanced, or at least try to be. Murphy almost single handedly shot us into the Premiership, and indeed in 2013/14 he kept us scoring when Didz was injured. What I saw on Tuesday night was a shadow of that player, but of course he was moved to accommodate Didz coming on, and looked either lethargic or injured, we now know the latter. I think we have a real challenge with 4 good strikers, fitting them in. Pitman would be my choice to partner Didz, but how can you leave Sears out, and more to the point how can leave out Murph. Things move on, and I cannot see a fit Murph having the level of success of last season, but this is about the team and not the individuals....so its a good headache to have. As we now see, we have injuries so the squad depth is now being proven.

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BlueNote added 16:55 - Aug 20 Would usually be gutted that Murphy's missing, but with Sears and Didz doing so well, and Pitman starting to settle in, we have a great attacking threat. Murphy will come back and bag a few to aid our promotion push I'm sure
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jas0999 added 17:09 - Aug 20 Last season it would have been a disaster if Murphy wasn't fit. This season it remains disappointing and restricts our options, but is less of a concern, with three excellent strikers to choose from. Hopefully Murphy will make it, as he is still one of our better players. Parr is becoming a concern and now can't be relied upon. Injury prone. A new signing needed to ensure we have sufficient cover. Great great news that Fraser will be fit. Sorry to Jay Tabb but he isn't in the same league.

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therein61 added 17:25 - Aug 20 Murphy is a marked man after last season but he(scoring or not)works his socks off for the cause, I feel that he is not fully fit and a rest for a game or two might do him good I would love to see Freddie and Didz start at Preston(if Murph is out) I reckon they could be a great combination and wreck most championship back 4's with their movement and link up, hope Fraser is fit as for Parr I think a months loan where he can prove his fitness(or not) might be in order

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