Boss Mick McCarthy says he now doesn’t expect on-loan winger Ryan Fraser to rejoin the Blues before the end of the season, while striker Daryl Murphy will again be missing when Town face Brentford at Portman Road on Saturday.

Fraser suffered a hamstring injury in the QPR game in January and has been undergoing his rehab back with his parent club AFC Bournemouth.

“I don’t think there’s any chance [of seeing Ryan Fraser again this season] actually,” McCarthy said. “He had a setback before, so he’s not going to be available for Saturday, and probably not the Saturday after.

“I’m looking it from the perspective if I was his manager. If he keeps having a setback he’d have to come back here 100 per cent fit, no doubt about that.

“And if I’m thinking about next season for one of my own players, a player who will probably be as valuable as Ryan will be to Bournemouth next season, I wouldn’t be encouraging him too much to be going [back out].

“I don’t think Eddie is stopping him in any shape or form, so don’t anybody think that, he was very gracious with us and loaned him and we got Brett, we had a really good deal and he’s helped us all the time.

“But I’d want to make sure that my player was fit for me for the start of next season and not having [injury problems]. If Ryan came here and got injured again, he’d be in [for treatment] all pre-season, he’d have no rest time and he’d be getting fit.

“There are a lot of mitigating circumstances why he may not come back. If he’s fully fit, we’ll see him again, but there’s a doubt about that.”

He says he doesn’t expect the Scotland U21 international to return next season: “I haven’t broached it with [Eddie Howe] but he sent him out to get some experience and to play and to do the things that he’s done with us in this league, just gain that experience playing.

“They were watching him and they were delighted with him, so I don’t envisage that he’ll come back here.”

Regarding Murphy’s calf injury, McCarthy says the Republic of Ireland striker won’t be back until the Blues face his former loan club Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.

“It’s looking more like Sheffield Wednesday, he’s not fit for this weekend,” the Town boss added.

“He had a scan at the start of the injury, he had a little tear, a little nick in it so I always said he was going to miss these three games which were coming thick and fast, and there’s been no surprises there. Hopefully he’ll be back for Sheffield Wednesday.

“Other than that, there are just little bumps and bruises but all the squad from Tuesday are fit.”

He says David McGoldrick and Teddy Bishop will have benefited from their run-outs on Tuesday but aren’t ready to start, but says he’ll look to freshen things up with the Blues playing their third game in a week.

"The games come thick and fast and it’s at the end of the season so everybody’s starting to feel it. There’s every chance there’ll be a few different faces.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy confirmed that, as reported by TWTD on Tuesday, West Ham striker Jordan Brown is on trial but says that so far his interest has gone no further than that: “We just had a look at him, we’ll see what happens.”

Brown featured for the U21s as they won 2-1 at Barnsley on Monday afternoon.

Photo: Action Images

thebeat added 17:49 - Apr 7 hoppy we've played half decent football twice this season. Once against Leeds when we had to dig ourselves out of the hole Son of Mick Douglas put us in and then against Forest when Douglas didnt play. Guess what tho 3 days later Mr Magoo put him straight back in. Tactical genius!
6

rkl added 17:55 - Apr 7 A season-long loan that ended with only 17 games for our best player. Really disappointing.
2

blueherts added 18:14 - Apr 7 Planet blue spot on
0

prebsa added 18:19 - Apr 7 As long as freshening things up is taking Douglas out of the entire squad then that's fine by me! Dosent matter anyway because we will still hoof the ball down the pitch! No playoffs now so may aswell put some of the youngsters on the bench and give them some game time.
4

jas0999 added 18:24 - Apr 7 Hoppy - Fraser carried us in a number of games, took the initiative and made us tick. We were still hoofing the ball forward! He took control and calmed it down. Howe will know how we play now. Would you send him back to us? Honestly?
2

blueherts added 18:27 - Apr 7 Fraser is a class player , who shone in our team Next season build around Bishop , Sears , Skuse , Emmanuel , Bru , Dozzell , Bart , DMc I dont mind Chambers at CB with Berra or Smith - but we cannot go into next season with that back 4 !! Midfield shake up and Sears is the main man up front ( down the middle) If MM goes and I am not saying I want him gone , just change your playing 'style'!!( he cant) - But if he goes to Villa - his choice not ours !! I am sure I will get pelters as it looks like his team are going down , but i would approach Karl Robinson from MK Dons - young , plays football and used to not having money

0

Elto added 18:31 - Apr 7 How sad that some of you think Geoff's witless comment is worthy of an upper. Bad news about Murphy. Shame about Fraser, would have liked to have seen him in blue again. I hope he has better luck next season.
1

martleshamitfc added 18:33 - Apr 7 Mick is the most stubborn manager and will pick an unchanged team Saturday stating what a good team Brentford are. Fully expect another 0.0 drab draw if we are lucky!
3

Cheshire_Blue added 18:42 - Apr 7 Karl Robinson would be a great choice. In the same position as MM with no money and about to be relegated League 1 !
2

blueherts added 18:57 - Apr 7 Cheshire - we have to BUILD a side and a football style - the old school days of getting a manager in - to get u up - are over - we have no money , I would rather find a manager who actually wants to try play football and build a side . All about opinions Cheshire - Are we moving forward from last season ?
1

carsey added 19:06 - Apr 7 Essex57 - I don't think Frazer is a sick note I think McCarthy played him before he was fully fit because he needed him on the pitch as the only real class player we had. I damn sure if I was in Howes position I wouldn't let him return. On the subject of Williams he was fine until he got smashed by the Watford thug since when he has had all sorts of problems. As far as buying quality like them we couldn't afford it even if McCarthy could persuade them.

5

Bob7881 added 19:10 - Apr 7 Essex57 you made the comment the other day you have your opinion and respect other peoples who differ from yours. So why make snide little comments. Just because plenty on here dont want McCarthy as manager it does not mean they dont want the best for ITFC.
5

leahcar88 added 19:17 - Apr 7 Karl Robinson would be a bad choice as would the Pompey set up I'm afraid
0

muccletonjoe added 19:27 - Apr 7 Lets be honest , apart from bish and bart you could release the entire team and still perform better with youth players and freebies
1

essex57 added 19:31 - Apr 7 Snide comments?
-2

essex57 added 19:34 - Apr 7 Imo he's a rabid anti Mick man !!!!
-3

essex57 added 19:38 - Apr 7 SNIDE=mocking in an indirect manner I don't think I could be accused of that
-2

Bob7881 added 19:52 - Apr 7 And youre a rabid Mick man.
4

surgery added 19:52 - Apr 7 If only MM could be honest with us. When he comes out with the obvious nonsense that there's nobody out there better than what he's got, why doesn't he add "on the £25k they've made available to me"? Surely even he can't be that thick or, if he really does believe it, then there really is no hope because he is obviously deluded.
0

essex57 added 19:59 - Apr 7 Bob and happy
-1

onthehoof added 20:02 - Apr 7 How about...... Bialkowski Emmanuel, Smith, Chambers, Foley Hyam Dozzell, Bishop, Bru, Feeney Sears Bench - Hayes, Kenlock, McGoldrick, Pitman, Pringle, Berra
2

ChrisR added 20:09 - Apr 7 OK , so I assume we are not paying his wages anyore then ??
0

thebeat added 20:31 - Apr 7 essex 57 and happy? Happy watching anti football? No wonder your up The dinosaurs arse!
-1

essexboy added 21:00 - Apr 7 Essex57'please practice what you preach.You like MM,that's fine,some don't,that fine.Just leave it at that because you are becoming very boring now.
0

essex57 added 21:27 - Apr 7 Don't bother reading them then what makes you think I'm inspired by your posts I only defend my point of view and try under great pressure to be polite considering some of the profanities I endure.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls