Town boss Mick McCarthy says David McGoldrick is looking sharp in training but says the 28-year-old needs to play an U21 game before he can be considered for the first team. McGoldrick has been out since mid-December with a hamstring injury.

“It’s lovely to see him, he’s trained really well,” McCarthy said. “[On Monday] he trained with the lads who hadn’t been training and he trained with the squad [yesterday].

“He looks sharp, but that’s only in the small-sided games. He’ll play on Monday in the U21s [against his former club Nottingham Forest].

“He’s a top player, a top, top Championship player that anybody would miss, so it would be lovely to have him back.”

McCarthy has said McGoldrick is likely to make his return to the senior squad for the trip to Wolves a fortnight on Saturday and he says the Republic of Ireland international is determined to make an impact in the final weeks of the season.

“He’s really motivated to play in the remaining games after the break. I don’t think we’ll see him before, Saturday’s too soon and he needs to play a game.

“He’s motivated to play in the eight games coming up [after the international break], giving himself a chance of playing in the European Championships for Ireland.”

Having been without McGoldrick and Ryan Fraser for long spells, as well as Teddy Bishop for the whole season, three of the best players in the squad, the Blues have arguably done well to remain involved in the play-off race.

“We want to give ourselves a chance to still be in the hunt when they come back and that’s why these two games are really vitally for us,” McCarthy added.

“I heard Gary Rowett at Birmingham say after their point at Wolves that if they can win their game in hand then they’re in a great position. And exactly the same with us, we will be if we can win our next two games.

“And then fingers crossed we’d have Didzy back, I don’t know about Ryan, we’ll have to wait and see.”

McCarthy has previously said he hopes Fraser, who is continuing his rehab from his hamstring injury back with his parent club AFC Bournemouth, will also be back to make the trip to Wolves.

Regarding Bishop, who could now be out for the rest of the season, McCarthy dismissed suggestions that he might have brought someone in to cover for the 19-year-old in the summer had he known how long he would be missing.

“With whom?” the Town boss asked. “We’ve got Jonny Douglas, Skusey, Kevin Bru, we’ve got Luke Hyam, Tabby, we’ve got Giles Coke.

“Certainly replacing him like for like was just never going to happen, so we’ve had midfield players in the building, but it was never going to happen in terms of replacing him.”

Photo: Action Images

BondiBlue added 06:22 - Mar 15 Which of the midfielders you've listed would you describe as a like-for-like replacement for bishop, mick?
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Town4me added 07:06 - Mar 15 Think you need to read the last paragraph again.......
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Penguinblue added 07:17 - Mar 15 Lets hope McG doesn't have a monk on. Suppose he wants to get his place in RoI squad
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Jimmy86 added 07:54 - Mar 15 Didz is made of glass and ever since that first knee injury he got against Blackpool, which put him out for the season, has had a succession of niggly injuries after that. He has zero pace and seems to have that languid style, similar to Berbatov. I've often wondered whether his running technique, which doesn't look like that of a natural athlete has contributed to his injuries

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blueherts added 07:56 - Mar 15 Giles Coke - Oh yes dont worry - if Ted is injured we have Giles Coke - do me a favour - in fact , with possible exception of Bru , not one ever gets past the half way line - Tabb ? he must be playing off scratch by now ! what a laugh
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blueherts added 07:59 - Mar 15 Imagine Fraser , Dids and Bish all together - oh well - Question whether we will see Fraser again - great little player - but probably got neck ache like the rest of the 'creatives'
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jas0999 added 08:24 - Mar 15 Good news about McGoldrick, but still disappointed we didn't sign an attack minded, creative goal scoring midfielder in the summer. Particularly as Bishop is our creative spark. Bru started well but has been inconsistent, Tabby clearly not good enough, whilst the remaining players are all defence minded. Sadly, the type of player we wanted would cost money. There would have been players around, but not in the 99p store. A ten goal a season central player would get you promoted. We still lack that in my opinion.

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HarryS_H added 08:43 - Mar 15 For all the doubters out there this will be the reason we make top six!
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HarryS_H added 08:45 - Mar 15 Jas0999 we did sign an attacking midfielder in the summer, Douglas is an attacking midfielder just with the signings of Fraser and amn on loan he had to sit in.
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essexboy added 08:59 - Mar 15 LOOK,it's ok for MM to say McG is nearly ready,BUT is he match fit,NO.It's ok to train well but when it comes to the real thing he is far off.I feel, IF he is ready then it will only be a bit part.A terrible shame because technically he is very good and yes we have missed him.With only nine games to go he is now running out of games.Douglas is an attacking midfielder,BUT he has been held back with the style we play and a few others who are not up to the mark.You only have to look at his record at Brentford.Tactics have been our downfall in many games this season,many due to injuries and some in my opinion diabolical decisions.Loose tonight and I fear the season is over.Shame to say but it's true.Lets just hope we can get three points tonight as Saturday will be very hard.

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tractorshark added 09:12 - Mar 15 Doesn't sound like Fraser will return. If the diagnosis was correct, he'll be fit soon but Bournemouth appear reluctant to let him come back.
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BtreeBlueBlood added 09:28 - Mar 15 Talk in the stand on Saturday - Fraser won't be coming back.
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jas0999 added 09:39 - Mar 15 HarryS_H - Douglas is not an attack minded midfielder. We needed a box to box player. A goal scorer and a creative force. It's widely recognised amongst most fans that we lack that in the centre. Fraser and AMN are wide men. I'm referring to that critical central role. Douglas is nowhere near good enough.
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ArnieM added 10:09 - Mar 15 Great that he's finally almost ready to return to action , after yet another season on the sidelines. But for me this new found impetus from Didsy is solely so he can get his arse in the International Squad for the Euros . The guy for Club action tbh has been a total waste of space for so long. I cant even recall what his latest injury was that kept him out this season. Oh well me might actually see some effort from him when he does play some of the final games now . Harsh maybe , but oh so true.

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Elto added 10:22 - Mar 15 ArnieM I don't really disagree with your comment, I feel he is a touch on the lazy side as well. My question is if he can't be bothered with us why would he be bothered about the Euros? Surely that would spoil his holidays.
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ArnieM added 12:22 - Mar 15 I don't mean to knock McGoldrick. But he does annoy me . I think despite his apparent laziness I think every player wants to play at the highest level. Didsy is no different and thus summer will be his last chance to shine on a much bigger platform. He won't getting another chance.I can't help but feel he remains very frustrated by Leicester's interest and the lost chance to be playing PL.....

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Michael11 added 12:36 - Mar 15 To suggest replacing Bishop with Coke or Tabb is like a 5 star all inclusive holiday to the carribean being cancelled and replaced with a self catering hostel in Syria.
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Harry7ITFC added 13:05 - Mar 15 Something that as a new member I find relatively annoying reading the comments on this site is everyone is full of criticism for a manager who has really stabilised and done well for our club. Yes we lack creativity at the moment which seems to be moaned about on every post but no one offers a solution on it bar 'invest in the squad' but with our money who can we invest with? Criticism can come with solutions I.e I believe Mark Davies from Bolton could be a good investment, creative midfielder with one year left on his contract and a league one team next season? What's everyone else's thoughts?

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blueherts added 14:47 - Mar 15 Harry good call - but if he costs more than £10,000 forget it
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Seasider added 15:57 - Mar 15 Seems like it is always jam tomorrow. Several of us have thought for sometime that it could be possible that we wont see Fraser or Bishop again this season,and unfortunately looks like we will be right,pity Mick didn't think the same and did something about it Hinted the other day when first mooted that he could look to get someone else in. Now we have the old chestnut back of all the midfielders we have including Coke and Tabby lol,and replacement never going to happen.Has probably spoken to that bloke with short arms and deep pockets who has told him soldier on. Notice in the EADT the other day that three buildings schemes are being mooted for Northern outskirts of Ipswich;bet Evans is glad he now owns the training ground as should make a bit of money if its built on.

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Dissblue added 16:05 - Mar 15 He'll be back, as soon as the weather warms up a bit.
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happybeingblue added 17:16 - Mar 15 hmm deja vu why am i not excited by this .. i should be but ...
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