Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that winger Ryan Fraser is facing six to eight weeks out with a hamstring injury and has revealed that midfield pair Cole Skuse and Giles Coke are also set to be sidelined.

“He’ll probably be out for six to eight weeks,” McCarthy said regarding Fraser, who suffered his injury in the final moments at QPR last week. “A real sad one that, I could tell when he did it he’d damaged his hamstring.

“Fair play to him, he kept hold of the ball for three or four seconds trying to get someone in play, which shows what he’s all about.

“He left the building as positive as ever, saying that he’s going to be six weeks and he’ll be back, and let’s hope that’s the case. But the timeframe is that it’ll be eight weeks.

“He’s been exceptional on both occasions he's been here. We missed him when he was injured the last time and we’ll miss him again this time, no doubt. But you have to get on with it, somebody else will get to play.”

Regarding former Bristol City man Skuse, he said: “Cole Skuse is out for at least a month, it could be six weeks. He has damaged a ligament in his toe.

“He did it early on in the game and limped through. He came off and had it strapped at half-time.

“It gave him a bit of comfort but it just got too much. That’s a real blow because he’s been in every game, he’s been inked in, he’s been one of the first names on the teamsheet for the last two and a half or three years.”

A disappointed Cole Skuse talks us through his injury, which will deny him the chance to return to Ashton Gate #itfchttps://t.co/K7Yc3u8FOo

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) February 11, 2016

Coke suffered a knee problem which looked serious having come on as a sub at Loftus Road but carried on but is also now looking at a month out: “He’s out for four weeks as well, he’s damaged his knee.”

Better news is that Luke Hyam is making progress after missing last week’s game with a calf problem, although he is a far from certain starter at Ashton Gate on Saturday.

“Luke Hyam may well be available yet, he went through his training today and we’ll see how he reacts tomorrow and then [after this weekend] we’ll have Jonathan Douglas back [from his three-match ban] and that certainly strengthens my hand.”

He added: “We’ve still got options in there, Kevin Bru, Tabby and Ainsley plays in there as well.

“If we get Ben Pringle, he plays in there, so we have got options we can put in there. Kev Foley can play in there.

“And if we have to get down to our own kids rather than looking at anybody else’s, Adam McDonnell’s been doing great in the U21s. But whatever we’ve got on Saturday we’ll make the best of it.”

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 14:56 - Feb 11 Interesting that he doesn't mention Digby (a midfielder as I understood it, but MM sees more of a central defender). I don't personally know, as not seen him play, but if he isn't seen as a possible option, in his own position when we're short of players - what is the point of him being here?
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RegencyBlue added 15:02 - Feb 11 Skuse and Fraser out! Top six looks a long way away now!!
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RaymondovicBlue added 15:07 - Feb 11 I can see Bru and Hyam in the middle from Mick, with Sears and AMN wider He'll play Pitman and Murph up top Not sure we would all choose that - but I think Mick will AND - for what it's worth - it should be good enough for the points - regardless of how mick will tell us that bristol are a good side, better than their league position etc !!
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Tufty added 15:13 - Feb 11 Ouch But might be just the refreshing change we need
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Surco72 added 15:22 - Feb 11 Fraser a massive loss not just in creativity but keeping the ball for us and one of few players that seem to scare opposition when on the ball . Skuse I am not sure is that big a loss if Hyam is fit as would like to see Bru and Hyam in middle , didn't think we missed him last season when injured as it was one of our best spells of the season , Hyam for me offers more energy and a lot more bite .

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Seasider added 15:41 - Feb 11 Funny nobody on here has mentioned about the loss of Giles Coke?lol Agree with Surco about Skuse though,and like him/her would like to see Kevin Bru play. Ryan Fraser has been our best player,and it is surprising and uncharacteristic of Mick to play somebody who wasn't fit,as he had complained about a tight hamstring after the Reading game. Still the damage is done now,and it would be possible to change the team formation to suit the players available.Thank goodness we are only playing Bristol City;lets hope they are not boosted by their change of Manager.

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Green_Army added 15:41 - Feb 11 Those that don't think will will miss Skuse know nothing about football. I personally fear we will miss him more than Ryan! Yes he doesn't run with the ball. Yes he doesn't score many goals. Yes he's not pacey. But he does all the horrible sweeping duties in the middle what people clearly fail to see. Skuse has an incredible vision of reading danger and we will miss that more than people realise. Most underrated player in our side, but in my view one of our best.

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Beattiesballbag added 15:48 - Feb 11 If Hyam isn't available(who I would prefer to Skuse) then he could always bring in Josh Emmanuel in at right back, move Chambers across & play 5 across the back,...... it wouldn't be any less creative than having Scuse sitting infront of them!
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Beattiesballbag added 16:06 - Feb 11 Don't panic Mister Mannering!! Just re read his comments " Luke Hyam may well be available yet, we'll have Jonathan Douglas back Kevin Bru, Tabby and Ainsley, Ben Pringle, he plays in there, Kev Foley can play in there, Adam McDonnell's been doing great! If not ........(I know I've said it before), but if the back four need protecting then HeMan Defender of the Universe is still looking for a contract.

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Currie10 added 16:09 - Feb 11 " Thank goodness we are only playing Bristol City " The same Bristol City who beat Boro, drew with Brum, fighting relegation and have a new manager - and we all know what happens when we play a side with a new gafa!
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Jimmy86 added 16:12 - Feb 11 Why on earth did he not take Skuse off more or less straight away, after he did it. Allowing him to play on has potentially made the injury worse than what it could have been. Strange decision in my book.
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muhrensleftfoot added 16:18 - Feb 11 Well none of this improves our chances of the play-offs. Fraser is a massive loss and Skuse is a class act, the unsung hero of many games with his defensive qualities and reading of the game. Fingers crossed that Hyam is fit. Good job Douglas will be back after Bristol City. When Coke came on second half v QPR, I thought he played really well, so it's a pity we've lost him too.

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Bergholtblue added 16:27 - Feb 11 I think Mick will bring in Hyam for Skuse, keep Bru in. Play Varney in Fraser's place the rest the same.
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ChrisFelix added 16:37 - Feb 11 I agree the the loss of Skuse & Fraser are a problem. As for Coke the only effect he has on the team when he plays is to make up the 11. I cant see how his signing has improved the squad, he simply takes up a wage. Shame Mick doesnt blood the boys like Bobby did. But i suppose football has changed in those 40 years
1

brian_a_mul added 16:43 - Feb 11 Bru & Hyam are injury prone so lets hope thats all our bad luck out of the way! Time for McDonnell to get some game time! Hopefully Bish wont be rushed back because of this- if so he could well end up injured again.
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Portman51 added 16:48 - Feb 11 Right Mick, earn your corn by sending out a side to win from what you've got, now you can't just photocopy your favourite eleven. Eight wins and a couple of draws from the last sixteen should be good enough for sixth.
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TimmyH added 17:00 - Feb 11 Skuse is ok nothing more nothing less...does the basic passing alright but not the fastest player we have, he had a good spell the last few months of last season when others didn't play as well but this season has reverted to be ordinary. Hyam should deputise ok in that position certainly with his tackling but needs to up his game about distribution though. As for Coke simple reason why there's not many references to him...

1

StowTractorBoy added 17:01 - Feb 11 The squad suddenly looks very ordinary now and think we will do well to get anything this weekend particularly with new Manager syndrome hitting us once again. Bristol City could have won at Portman Road and not wishing to sound like Mick McCarthy they have a decent side who have achieved some excellent results. Midfield will be the problem for me particularly if Hyam is not fit. Bru was dreadful for 45 minutes last Saturday and Maitland Niles just does not do it for me. Hopefully we can get Pringle sorted and we must not forget Tabb who is vastly underrated on here. I personally would like us to play 4-4-2 with Sears and Murphy up front but MM seems to prefer 4-3-3 and is probably what he will do.

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jas0999 added 17:13 - Feb 11 The decision not to strengthen in January now looks poor and now we are panic buying. We should have a squad capable of dealing with injuries and knew McGoldrick and Bishop were out. Evans needs to review his transfer strategy. We won't miss Giles Coke. As poor a player I have seen for a long while. Skuse is a miss but in all honestly he hasn't been as good this season as last.

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NSL added 17:19 - Feb 11 I would honestly be happy if Mick came out now and wrote off the season but promised to play some youngsters in a bid to build for next season. You never know, we might even surprise a few people !
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phillo added 17:42 - Feb 11 I am gobsmacked about some of the comments on here about Skuse - ordinary !!! - obviously entitled to your opinion but trust me you will see how much we miss him in the next month or so. He does ALL the "unseen" work (clearly unseen by some!!) & is close to first name on the sheet. Big loss. As for the rest ..... good job we strengthened the squad in January ....... oh wait .......

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prebbs007 added 17:47 - Feb 11 That's fine. We have a stronger squad than last year and we recruited really well in January to enhance our strong league position !!!! Or B we did fark all and are now screwed. Cheers Marcus Cheers Mick. Mugs
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rinkydinkpanther added 17:48 - Feb 11 That's the spirit!!! Let's write off the season because of a few injuries whilst we sit two points off sixth and eight points off automatic with 16 games to go and 48 points to play for. I honestly can't think of a better idea.
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muccletonjoe added 18:00 - Feb 11 Bristol on Saturday will not be easy, but if we have hyam and Pringle in midfield, I feel we have a chance
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therein61 added 18:26 - Feb 11 With Skuse and Douglas out this is the chance for whoever is selected to give our midfield the drive and offensive play we have lacked all season and give our strikers some decent service so they come off the field with sore feet instead of necks!! good luck boys 3 points please.
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