Striker Daryl Murphy will miss the trip to face his former loan club Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, Larsen Touré and Luke Varney - another one-time Owls loanee - are both doubts and Teddy Bishop won’t be involved, while ex-Wednesday midfielder Giles Coke has been ruled out for the season, however, Andre Dozzell will be on the bus travelling to South Yorkshire.

“He’s been training, he’s no good for Saturday,” manager Mick McCarthy said regarding Murphy, who suffered a calf injury while away with the Republic of Ireland.

“I think he’s making noises that if he’s going to come back, Tuesday will be the game for him.

“There weren’t any other issues up until we went out and trained and Larsen Touré limped off with a bit of a groin and Reg Varney came off as well with a tight hamstring. We were fine up until that moment. We’ll see how they are.”

Regarding Coke, he added: “Giles is on crutches, he had his knee operated on. It’ll be next season the first time he’ll be back.

“He injured it in training and has subsequently had an operation on it and won’t be back until pre-season. He [hasn’t really had too chances] and it’s a nasty injury he’s got.’

McCarthy says he knows nothing of Liverpool’s reported interest in 16-year-old midfielder Andre Dozzell and says he’ll make the trip to Hillsborough.

“I would imagine there’s lots of people involved looking at our best young players and Doz is one of them, he goes away and plays with England,” he said.

“You can’t hide them, you can’t put them under lock and key but I’ve no idea about Liverpool or anybody else and I’ve certainly had no contact with anybody.

“He’ll be travelling with us on Saturday, he’ll travel to Sheffield Wednesday and not for any other reason other than I think he’s doing great and he’s probably due an opportunity. We’ll see over the next few games.

Teddy Bishop put in a quiet display in the U21s against the Owls on Monday, as Town won 1-0, and McCarthy says that was indicative of the 19-year-old’s current lack of match fitness.

“He’s miles away from playing in the first team, no, not miles away because he’s training great with us, but on 60x40 or half-size pitches it's one thing, and of course you get your breather and you don’t have to be in your shape,” he continued.

“He is training very, very well and I’m delighted with him. He won’t be involved this weekend, he’ll be playing with the U21s on Monday at Sheffield United and that’s with a view that he will get 90 minutes I hope and we will see him start a [first-team] game before the end of the season.

“He’s no problem with his injuries, but it’s 12 months since he played properly almost, he hasn’t played this season and he’d had little niggles before last season when he was fully fit, so the last thing I want him to do is be missing pre-season again.

“If we get him to play, it’ll be wonderful, but if we can’t and he has to just finish the season without having started a game and he’s fully fit and he can have his holiday and do his programme for the summer and then do a full pre-season, then we can look forward to him next season.

“If we got him back and we’ve got Didzy back, then we’ve got some quality back in the team.”

McCarthy continues to feel it’s very unlikely that loanee Ryan Fraser will return to Portman Road before the end of the season with the Scotland U21 international undergoing his rehab from his hamstring injury at parent club AFC Bournemouth.

“Ryan I doubt very much will be coming back. [Town physio] Matt Byard was speaking to him, I believe, and I think their physio and he’d have to be 100 per cent right.”

Midfielder Luke Hyam is banned for one game for his red card against Brentford last weekend.

Photo: Action Images

BlueMachines added 19:38 - Apr 14 @Currie10. I didn't say it wouldn't be a good achievement. My point is that it's unlikely we will have much to play for soon so it would be good to give him several appearances from the bench if possible. Blood him early ready for more involvement next year. That is what I'd like to see personally. Just because you don't agree, doesn't make me a moaner.
4

stevelincsexile added 20:41 - Apr 14 Why does every want rid of Toure. He has been unlucky with injuries and the few games he has played he did show signs of being quite useful. Given an injury free run I think he would be an asset and I would keep him another season at least.
2

Elto added 21:13 - Apr 14 stevelincexile Because they like to judge a player before they see them play. Same with Coke and Foley. Amusingly Foley 'morphed' (the signing was initially slated) into a good player after 1 appearance, a match in which he played out of position. The same people that continually bang on about pegs and holes (yawn) then wanted him playing midfield every game even though he is a defender. I have been to all our league games this season and still don't think I have seen enough of any of them to make any kind of judgement, they have done what's been asked of them. Filled in when needed. We are not going to get much better for that role. Even if we had X million to spend.

2

grubbyoik added 21:56 - Apr 14 The fans get fed up with the dross football on offer.. So MCCarthy brings back Mcgoldrick and Bishop for some cameo appearances before the end of the season to try and keep the natives off their backs.. Their taking us for mugs!
-1

ivegottheblues added 23:04 - Apr 14 I suspect that if Dozzell does play it will be to put him in the shop window.
0

hoppy added 23:21 - Apr 14 Too much to hope that Coke might be the real thing next season?
0

Harry7ITFC added 00:00 - Apr 15 Can't help but understand how any of the scouts haven't managed to pick up on Jack Payne from Southend and show interest in him? Really Creative midfielder who can play out wide has been such a live wire this season, is 21 and available on a free this summer? He is someone who can get the fans off their seat and it's just what we need, can't for the life of me understand why there's not been a link, offload Coke and Toure and he's basically a free hit as the wages would be covered with no fee?

0

BrettenhamBlue added 00:39 - Apr 15 Coke was already known for his injuries prior to us signing him, yet still Mick signed him. I cannot understand why we gave him a 2 year contract with a possibility of 3. Sorry but nowhere near good enough. His other option (a bottom half League 2 side) decided not to sign him as they couldn't see how he would get in the side yet we did. It was a risky decision by Mick and this time it hasn't paid dividends. Toure and Digby are yet to shine, but look much better. Mid-table league 1 quality which is ok as back up.

-1

planetblue_2011 added 04:31 - Apr 15 To be honest when has Coke & Toare ever had a good run in the team?!! He plays Sears wide & Douglas, Skuse & Hyam in midfield. Feel sorry for both of them especially Toare he's been way out of the picture. Why did Mick sign them if he doesn't give them a chance. He's a strange one that Mick with his big nose!!
1

grinch added 07:24 - Apr 16 Why do supporters think that we can just buy ourselves out of this league someone mentioned QPR that proves it the owner kept assets this season which no one mrntiobs we kust get negatives like we sold cresswell and mings but we have kept others. Just frystratingvso much negativity the forum does allow opinions but it has turned into a mothers nagging session in recent weeks we have what we have be grateful it could be alot worse and start sjoeing what a true fan means through thick and thin no matter what stip being defeatest and support the boys wearing the blue and white and let youngsters develop correctly which is what is happening at present

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls