Striker Brett Pitman will be back in the squad for Saturday’s home game against Cardiff City having been out of action since the end of September with an ankle injury.

The 28-year-old, last season's 11-goal top scorer, played for the U23s in Monday’s 2-0 defeat to Huddersfield but suffered no ill effects, according to his manager Mick McCarthy.

“He came through the game the other night, he’s fine and he is in the squad,” the Blues manager confirmed.

“He brings a goal threat. It was difficult for him the other night because it was just his first game back but he got through the 90 minutes, he competed all the way through and was still going at the end and encouraging the others. It’ll be nice to have him back because he’s a good personality, he’s a winner.”

Aside from Tommy Smith (back), Luke Hyam and Giles Coke (both knee), who are all recovering after surgery, McCarthy says everyone else is fit with Christophe Berra expected to be over the knock he sustained early on at Bristol City when caught by Aaron Wilbraham’s late challenge, which saw the Robins skipper yellow-carded.

“Christophe’s got a nasty cut on his foot from what was a nasty tackle,” McCarthy added. “That’s causing him problems, but he’ll be OK, he’ll be fine to play, I’m sure.”

Photo: Action Images

flyingdutchman added 14:41 - Dec 8 Am i bothered
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Burnzee1991 added 14:45 - Dec 8 Great to see Pitman back :-) would be great to see a win against Cardiff!
12

Dissboyitfc added 14:49 - Dec 8 Cant see anybody in current squad scoring 11 goals this season. Disgusting state of affairs, cant put it all down to bad luck with injuries.
4

Daleyitfc added 14:51 - Dec 8 Oh joy : another wobble-bottom waddling round the pitch with Douglas and McGoldrick ; I've seen sloths move faster. Get rid of the lot of them and the megalomaniac who picks the team.
-7

bongoblue91 added 15:11 - Dec 8 Its great to see all the positive supporting the team! 👍
8

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:11 - Dec 8 What is of more concern to me is that our once great youth set-ups (OK U23, but still) can no longer beat other Championship set-ups or lower. Since we can't buy anyone worth buying, we should be concentrating even more on getting quality players through our lower ranks. We have the expertise to do this; he needs the backing.
7

blueblood66 added 15:12 - Dec 8 great finisher, we need him badly
11

iaintaylorx added 15:14 - Dec 8 Good to have him back. Works hard and a good player at this level.
12

hogster1970 added 15:19 - Dec 8 well if berra is crocked then dont play him. move chambo at lcb and josh as rb . great to see pitman back
6

midastouch added 15:21 - Dec 8 He not set the world alight since being here (11 last season is ok but pathetic to think that was the highest that anybody in the entire team could manage!) but we have so few striking options then what choice do we have. I really do hope we get some new fire power in January as the likes of McGoldrick and Varney don't strike me as being able to find the goals we need to be sure of safety. And I'm not convinced about Pitman either yet. When he was starting regularly before his injury he didn't seem to contribute that much, certainly in terms of goals. As for McGoldrick, I used to rate him highly but I've started to lose that faith as he looks pedestrian now. Perhaps a new striker would make them raise their game, I sure hope so because our lack of goals threatens to take us further towards the bottom 3 if we're not careful.

5

howdonblue added 15:57 - Dec 8 I think the guy should be welcomed back he is a threat but it's not his fault earlier in the season he was asked to lead the line when Murphy went to Newcastle! That's not his most effective position .
9

12th_Man added 16:07 - Dec 8 Anyone else not give 2 sh1ts about the match on Saturday
-8

BlueMachines added 16:15 - Dec 8 Just need to work out how to supply the guy with chances.
4

itsonlyme added 16:21 - Dec 8 At least you will get 100% effort from Pitman
7

muccletonjoe added 16:46 - Dec 8 After Burton and QPR comes another must win game to keep us out of the relegation fight.
3

Bobby_Petta added 16:49 - Dec 8 Doesn't matter who plays up front, with ex Skuse and Douglas they will be no service and a manager who plays negative football. I would like to see Sears and Best play upfront and play Mcgoldrick behind just in front of Midfield as he can create something drop Skuse or Douglas but we know this won't happen along with chambers and Knudsen dropping out. As for being positive bongoblue91 what have fans got to be positive about the football is dreadful and the Manager is to stubborn to change. The whole club is in a Mess with no youth been given a fair chance.

10

hoppy added 16:50 - Dec 8 Great to have him back, but I must admit, I'm a bit confused from reading that... What is a 'goal-threat', not sure I know what that means anymore?
4

d0nk added 17:00 - Dec 8 Sorry to say I can't get excited anymore. Its always 1 step forward and 2 steps back with us at the moment. Cant see it changing anytime soon. What have we become ?
5

1RWR added 17:02 - Dec 8 DaleyitfcOh joy : another wobble-bottom waddling round the pitch with Douglas and McGoldrick ; I've seen sloths move faster. - See more at: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30737/pitman-back-in-squad-for-cardiff-c Slightly harsh and somewhat crude? No need for personal insults surely!
8

Ferguson added 17:18 - Dec 8 Good to see him back - we need those goals badly Mr Pitman ! COYB
4

Kirbmeister added 17:59 - Dec 8 For the foreseeable future the results pattern will be the occasional win, several 0-0 or 1-1 draws and the rest narrow defeats. No hope whatsoever of the play offs and a definite chance of relegation. Get used to it.
3

jas0999 added 18:16 - Dec 8 Good news.
4

therein61 added 18:39 - Dec 8 Re your comment Blueblood yes he's a good finisher(when he gets the service) but he's not Murph who knackered himself chasing hoofs Pitman will give his all and then look behind him and shake his head as ball sails over the touch/goal line!! re the Cardiff game Colin is about and after 3 points while our esteemed leader will be setting out for 1.
1

Ipswichbusiness added 18:53 - Dec 8 The first couple of seasons that Murphy was here no-one on this website (myself included) thought that he was much of a "goal threat". Then MM hit on the novel ideas of playing a centre-forward in the middle rather than the left and providing a bit of service. The result was goals.
1

Pip50 added 18:56 - Dec 8 You richard heads criticing this move Pitman scores goals currently most of our squad doesn't. Priceless!
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