Town boss Mick McCarthy says David McGoldrick, Tommy Oar and Cole Skuse could all return to the squad for Saturday’s game at Nottingham Forest, while Christophe Berra is the only new injury concern after Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Hull City and Jay Tabb remains sidelined.

Former Forest striker McGoldrick missed the trip to the KC Stadium with a groin problem, Oar having suffered a concussion in the home game against Huddersfield and Skuse with an ankle injury.

“I didn’t think Didzy was going to be available,’ McCarthy admitted. “I thought he was struggling for Saturday but he came to my office this morning with Matt Byard, the physio, and said ‘I want to be considered, I want to be in contention, I think I’m OK’.

“And he’s trained this morning, so I’m delighted with that. That’ll be a real plus if he’s fit.

“Tommy Oar’s trained with the physios this morning having had the bang last week but he should be training fully with us tomorrow.

“Skusey hasn’t trained today but will hopefully train tomorrow with a view to playing.”

“Christophe’s not trained since the game, he got a nasty bang on his hip, so I’m hoping he’s OK. Other than that, all the others were fine.”

Midfielder Jay Tabb remains sidelined, however: “Unusual for Tabby, he’s never had a hamstring injury and it’s been longer than he thought. Not his hamstring, of course, I mean the length of time. It’s been longer than he thought, we’d like to have him back.”

Also unavailable at present is winger Ryan Fraser, who suffered a medial knee ligament injury while away with Scotland’s U21s during the international break.

McCarthy says the 21-year-old has gone back to his parent club to undergo his rehab: “He’s at Bournemouth. He’s their player when all is said and done.

“He’ll get his first treatment there and then when he needs to come back and he’s getting ready to play he’ll come back here.”

Fraser is on a season-loan with the Blues with no recall clause available to parent clubs in such deals.

McCarthy says Luke Hyam, who underwent knee surgery in the summer, and Luke Varney, who ruptured an achilles in the play-offs, are on course for their planned November returns: “They’re fine, they’re on target for their recovery and coming back and playing.”

Former loanee Varney is currently not contracted to the Blues but will be offered a deal once he is fit.

Teddy Bishop is still undergoing his recovery from his hamstring and shin splints problems and is now training with the U18s and U21s having undergone a second pre-season programme.

Despite the recent run of poor form and spate of injuries, McCarthy says he has no loan signings currently in his plans: “No, nothing. We’ve been talking about having the best squad and if that’s the case, we’ve got players who can play.

“Tommy Oar’s been the cover for Ryan Fraser but sadly he came into the team and got knocked out. He can’t do anything about that but I’ve got to give him his chance to come back and a chance to play before I go looking for somebody else to play, a replacement.”

Meanwhile, The Blues are reported to be one of a number of Championship clubs keeping tabs on Leyton Orient striker Jay Simpson, 26, who has scored 11 goals in 15 games for the League Two side this season.

The former Arsenal, Hull City, QPR, Millwall and West Brom frontman is also claimed to be interesting the MK Dons, Brentford and Fulham.

With four senior strikers already in the squad, Town seem unlikely to be looking for an additional experienced frontman at present.

Elsewhere, ex-Blues striker Jason Scotland, 36, has joined Ladbrokes League One side Stenhousemuir on a short-term contract and is set to make his debut in Saturday’s game against Ayr United.

Photo: Action Images

nhabo added 14:40 - Oct 22 I like the idea of Tabb's hamstrings being longer than he thought. He'll come back from injury 6ft 4, play up front and score the goals which will take us into the play offs.
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Devereuxxx added 14:41 - Oct 22 I'm looking forward to having Hyam back. He brings a certain bite to the midfield that is somewhat lacking at the moment.
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truckerblue added 14:42 - Oct 22 Jason Scotland. Built like a brick sh*those and always had a smile on his face when playing. Oh how we could do with a few smiling right now!!
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Surco72 added 14:44 - Oct 22 Why is Dids being fit a bonus MM you have only started him in two league games this season ? Why is there no mention of Bishop Is he injured still or just not selected for squads ? You may have been talking about having the best squad MM but quite clearly that is not the case as we have no good full backs and no quality keeper in our ranks hence we have the worst defensive record in the league

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Penguinblue added 14:44 - Oct 22 Fingers crossed for a better performance at Forest though I despair at MM, his continued presence as manager with his ridiculous team selections, tactic and nonsense talk. I know its boring but lets look at the Chambers issue again. We are told he is a great captain and 'proper' footballer although there is little evidence of it on the pitch. We are told he is very vocal in the changing room. If I were a player and he was very vocal in the changing room having been at fault week after week for goals and defeats it would not motivate - especially as he is MM's pet. Real leadership would be admitting he is not up to it and asking MM to drop him. Also what is all the fist pumping about? Is he trying to milk applause when we are excited at a win - he tends to be on his own when he does it - have the others become embarrassed by it?

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rickw added 15:01 - Oct 22 Something different for the next game: BialkowskiSkuseSmithBerraParrDouglasBruToureOarMcGoldrickSears Substitutes: Gerken   Chambers   Knudsen   Coke   Maitland-Niles   Murphy   Pitman    Skuse played Right Back his last season at Bristol City, lets get 2 full backs who can pass and move on from there, it maybe controversial but long ball isn't working and it seems we tried playing football against Hull, just nobody told Chambers and Knudsen!!!

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rickw added 15:03 - Oct 22 Surco - MM said Bishop was going to have 2 weeks building up match fitness with the U21's after the international break, then move back into the first team
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PhilTWTD added 15:21 - Oct 22 I should have mentioned Bishop's situation, will add.
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Lightningboy added 15:21 - Oct 22 The cynic in me is wondering just how seriously injured some of these players actually would be if we were in the top 2.....?
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iaintaylorx added 15:23 - Oct 22 PLAY BRU!
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CustardCream added 15:46 - Oct 22 If Berra was ruled out it would be a blessing in disguise, would give us the chance to play a balanced back four
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MickMillsTash added 15:56 - Oct 22 Have seen the Blackburn and Hull games recently. I think one of the main differences between last year and this is our work rate in midfield. Anderson, S Hunt and Tabb worked their Nadds of when playing last year and Douglas, Maitland Niles, Toure, Coke etc are not. The opposition has more time on the ball which is exposing our defence. Whoever plays on Saturday we need to WIN the physical battle first.

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Surco72 added 15:58 - Oct 22 Thanks Phil , IMO Bishop is the player we are missing the most to the whole squad Bart Chambo , Berra , Smith Toure , Skuse , Bru , Parr Dids Sears , Murphy Subs . ANM , Oar Knudsen , Douglas , Pitman ,Myclociwicz ? , Gerkin ,
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TimmyH added 16:12 - Oct 22 Apparently Bishop is now suffering from shin splints (was mentioned on saturday with the team news)...a player we certainly need back. For me McG has not started enough, get Sears/Skuse back in and drop Douglas, would be good to to see a proper full back at RB but pointless saying this it will never happen.
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bohslegend added 16:30 - Oct 22 Surco and Lightningboy these conspiracy theories were prevalent last season too by those who wanted to have a go at the manager. Murphy was definitely leaving. Didzy was leaving, Liverpool were in for Bish etc, etc, etc. Even though the manager on countless occasions gave real reasons for their absence from games/training etc, many on here just, like this article, were sure something was going on that they weren't being told about.

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RonFearonsHair added 16:34 - Oct 22 A Scotland/Chopra reunion on Saturday then!
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StowTractorBoy added 16:45 - Oct 22 MickMillsTash agree 100% with those comments. Anderson apart from being injury prone is a big miss as he did a great job in protecting Chambers. At the moment he does not have a defensive minded midfield player in front of him which does not help his cause. Not defending Chambers as he was been awful of late but if he has to play he has to have protection in front of him. Tabb another player our fans readily knock is also a workhorse defensively and we could have done with him at Blackburn and Hull also. Hope for the best on Saturday but our record at the City Ground of late is woeful.

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RobTheMonk added 16:45 - Oct 22 Love Varney. He's one that we've missed. Not the best player in the world, but my god does he give it his all. Was gutted when he got injured. And Hyam as well - another one who runs and runs. If we resort to playing a midfield 3 again, I'd like to see Skuse---Bru---Hyam.
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Seasider added 16:47 - Oct 22 If Tabby was fit,I am certain McCarthy would have played him;but as it is Kevin Bru has got his chance,and being the best player on Tuesday will he be in Saturdays team? More chance we shall see Chambers Knudsen and Gerken I expect; despite Chambers being at fault I feel for the first goal as he was no where near the crosser,and Gerken didn't come for the ball in his six yard box when Brucey headed in. Two goals came from that side with Chambers awol. The other I expect Mick will blame on Parr,even though he was playing him out of position; but Knudsen was about as effective as a chocolate tea pot against speedy widemen,who most teams employ against us now as they know we have such a pedestrian defence and midfield except for KB

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PhilTWTD added 17:05 - Oct 22 TimmyH The shin splints thing goes back to last season and also prevented him from taking a full part in pre-season as well. Not an injury so much as something to manage.
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Surco72 added 17:35 - Oct 22 Bogs legend ...where is the big conspiracy theory I merely asked why Bishop was not mentioned to which Phil kindly updated the article . You are so desperate to defend MM you are failing to actually to reply to posts . Why has Dids not been playing this season he has only been injured for one game ? Why has the back four not been replaced when playing badly week in week out ? Why has Douglas kept his place when I haven't seen him have a good game ? Why is Gerks in goal when clearly the defence have no confidence in him ? Try answering some of those points with your own view rather than your usual I love Mick stuff ?

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EatonBlue added 17:46 - Oct 22 Didzy must start. A good performance is long overdue and for that reason this is an important match, particularly for Chambo against his former club.
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HackneyBlue added 18:22 - Oct 22 OH my god ,someone mentioned a balanced back four,lets hope this happens
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cats_whiskers added 18:34 - Oct 22 Balanced back four.. Mick is becoming Unbalanced as the games go by
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blueboy1981 added 18:47 - Oct 22 ....... people have short memories - let's not get too carried away with the potential Hyam return. Did anyone ever see him pass other than sideways or backwards ?? - more of the same I'm afraid - other than a bit of 'bite'. That alone in midfield will NOT solve our problems.
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