Town boss Mick McCarthy says skipper Luke Chambers, midfielder Cole Skuse and centre-half Christophe Berra all trained this morning and will be fine for Saturday’s game against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s, while new signing Kevin Foley will be in the squad if his international clearance has come through.

The trio were amongst the senior players not to make the trip to Portsmouth on Tuesday with Chambers having suffered a tight calf in the game against Preston, Skuse a hamstring problem and Berra requiring an injection for a shoulder injury.

“They’ve trained today, they’ve all got through a training session OK, so they’ll all be fine, thankfully,” McCarthy confirmed.

“Kevin Foley will be part of the squad that travels, providing he gets international clearance.

“He’s been training well, I’ve been delighted with him. He’s kept himself in good shape, he had the U21 game and he’s trained every day. He looks good.”

Centre-half Piotr Malarczyk is banned for one game following his red card on Tuesday.

Having exited the FA Cup following the 2-1 defeat at Fratton Park on Tuesday, McCarthy says some of his younger players could now go out on loan.

“Possibly, I think certainly Josh Emmanuel, who went out to Crawley and didn’t get enough football, and maybe Myles Kenlock,” he added.

“We’ll see with one or two of them. But we’ve got to get somebody who wants to take them, I can’t just put them out on loan. So, if I get the requests, I will consider some of them, of course.”

But the Blues boss still has no plans to add to his squad before the transfer window closes a week on Monday.

“I’m comfortable with the ones who’ll be coming back and playing against Birmingham, the team that we’ve got,” he said. "The first team squad’s good.”

Photo: Action Images

MaySixth added 14:32 - Jan 21 Shock.
5

brendenward35 added 14:47 - Jan 21 Any rumours on the transfer front?
1

Smithy added 14:49 - Jan 21 you'd have thought cover for centre half was a priority after what was seen on Tuesday night
5

TR11BLU added 14:53 - Jan 21 Surprise, Surprise...
7

christiand added 15:02 - Jan 21 The lack of creativity, within the side, will stop us finishing in the top 6.
2

FrimleyBlue added 15:07 - Jan 21 Christiand, lack of creativity which has got us in the top 6 already?
0

christiand added 15:10 - Jan 21 We're not in the top 6 Micknose, we're 7th!
6

Stato added 15:18 - Jan 21 No excuses for Saturday. The eleven that will start have all been rested and those on the bench have mostly got improved match fitness. I guess the next update will be Mick telling us how strong Brum are and how they've spent a few quid meanwhile Birmingham have had a week to practice defending long balls up to a strong centre forward.
3

Bergholtblue added 15:44 - Jan 21 We were embarrassed by Portsmouth in the first leg and then came back to play our best football of the season against Leeds. So here's hoping...
2

derby123 added 15:53 - Jan 21 Bossman mick would be right in saying Birmingham are a good side. There just won away at derby inflicting there heaviest defeat of the season. Whilst sitting in 8th in table just outside play offs. Maybe engage your brain before spouting your usual drivel.
5

Kesgraveblue57 added 15:54 - Jan 21 You have to feel sorry for Birmingham with our rested first-team stars raring to go Birmingham don't have a chance a chance in hell but if by chance the town lose you wonder what the excuses going to be?
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FrimleyBlue added 16:11 - Jan 21 oh boo hoo chris, feck me, we were 6th last week. anyways, we go up we come down, just enjoy the championship for what it is. a far superior and entertaining league than the prem
2

legoman added 16:18 - Jan 21 5th Micknose!
1

oldblue added 16:22 - Jan 21 Happy with the first team..well we were poor against Preston so we are happy with poor...but the league is not a good league so we could still make the play offs win at Wembley and get to the promised land spend a few million pay off the debt and we will all be happy albeit relegated the first year back and the merry go round starts all over again
4

FrimleyBlue added 16:30 - Jan 21 feck it! we were 1st at some point.
0

mrg25 added 16:34 - Jan 21 Sad no new players coming in as we need a player with a goal threat playing in the hole as Bru despite being a creative player is not a goal scorer.As for the rest good honest player's but that will only get u so far play offs maybe but never good enough to beat 2 of the divisions better teams when it counts
1

sidtheswan added 16:37 - Jan 21 Shame no plans to boost squad as obviously no competition for places at the moment which isn't healthy . Only competition is on goalkeeping front which is a shame as a decent couple of signings will ensure mm's 1st choice eleven play a bit harder and also provide decent cover in case of injuries . Sorry forgot MM doesn't listen so waste of time typing message .
1

Brazilsnuts added 16:38 - Jan 21 Gerken Chambers Berra smith Knudsen Skuse Douglas Bru Sears Fraser Murphy Bart Pittman AMN Varney Hyam Foley McGoldrick Bishop to come back The rest I don't think McCarthy is bothered about
0

horse added 17:12 - Jan 21 Its the last shake of the dice now looks like Milne [quote] if mm needs funds to STRENTGTHEN we have the funds to support him how many times have we heard that old chestnut , with all the other top sides adding to there squads surely we should be doing the same , I rest my case.
1

Penguinblue added 17:28 - Jan 21 No confidence in McCarthy Long past his sell by date. The 'dark one' was right all along (but that does not excuse his behaviour)
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TractorCam added 17:28 - Jan 21 I'm sorry but i do not believe for a second these were that bad. I don't care that we're out of the cup but if that was a league game i doubt these 3 (who never get injured) would have missed the game
0

yorksblue added 17:40 - Jan 21 That magic sponge has worked wonders since Tues then.
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jas0999 added 17:45 - Jan 21 Good news. I'm still disappointed we didn't sign a better player than Foley to replace Parr. Reduced the quality of the squad.
1

therein61 added 18:04 - Jan 21 The chosen favourites at the back(without any decent alternative if injured) and uncreative midfield options will I fear cost us this season nothing has been done to rectify(even a loan) the lack of a ball carrying midfielder(Bru does his best but is obviously instructed not to be adventurous!!) to give our strikers and wide men the ammunition to get more goals I hope I'm wrong but I fear an empty handed season that started off so well we need 3 points Saturday nothing less if we are to get anywhere our strikers and wingers can cause anyone problems in this league all they need is fast ball to feet not up in the air hopeful hoofs from the back.

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Kikapu added 18:27 - Jan 21 jas0999 how do you know how good or bad Foley is? Let's see how well he does first.
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