Town boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues are down to the bare bones ahead of Saturday’s home game against Blackburn Rovers with Brett Pitman a doubt with a calf problem, but skipper Luke Chambers, Cole Skuse and Leon Best are all back having missed last week’s FA Cup draw with Lincoln City.

“Pits has got a sore calf and we’ll have to have a look at him tomorrow,” McCarthy said. Myles Kenlock is still injury with his calf, so we’re down to the bare bones again unfortunately.”

Defender Chambers and midfielder Skuse are both set to return after missing last week’s match with knee injuries, while striker Best is over the illness which forced him out of the Imps clash but McCarthy is still without several first team players.

Tommy Smith (back) and Luke Hyam (knee) are both back in training after surgery but are still some way off a return to action, while Teddy Bishop is also still out due to an ankle problem.

David McGoldrick is out for around a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, while Jonny Williams (shoulder) and Giles Coke (knee) are longer term absentees.

With his options up front limited, McCarthy confirmed that 17-year-old Ben Morris will be in the squad.

Photo: TWTD

heathen66 added 16:07 - Jan 13 I am a bit surprised Skuse and Chambers have shaken off their knocks and not Kenlock....not !!! If Chambers has to play then how about this Mick Bialkowski Chmbers, Webster, Berra Ward, Bru, Skuse, Lawrence Sears Best / Pitman Morris As long it is a genuine 3-4-3 (or a 3-1-3-3) and not a 5-3-1-1 then go for it. If we are so down to bare bones, why let Varney depart, he really could not be that expensive. So much for getting business done early in the transfer window. So this is the third game in already (4th on Tuesday). All bids should have been on the table Jan 1. We knew at the end of August what we needed when we sold Murphy and did not replace him

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Drew added 16:10 - Jan 13 Do we not have any youngsters to use from the Academy? Ben Morris for example, surely Ben is better than Leon Best ffs.
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Seasider added 16:24 - Jan 13 Drew,it does say above that Ben Morris as been included in the squad,thats not to say that he will feature though. Like some would like to see 3,at the back which could then accommodate both Chambers and Emmanuel.After all John McGreal switched to this formation,and Col U havn't lost since!
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jas0999 added 16:30 - Jan 13 No sympathy. The club had between September and December to get signings ready to go from 1 Jan. it's now mid month and still nothing, Murphy sold - no replacement. Varney released - no replacement. Very poor management from Evans and McCarthy.
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itfcgene added 16:33 - Jan 13 __________________Bart____________________ __Luke Chambers__Webster_________Berra_____ Emmanuel_________Skuse____________Knudsen ______Ward________________Dozzell__________ _____________Lawrence_____________________ ___________________________Sears___________ Substitutions Bench: Dean Gerkin. Best, Ben Morris, Digby, Bru
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Lightningboy added 16:53 - Jan 13 Hah...getting those excuses in already Mick? This is becoming SO depressing..I'm not even enjoying the victories anymore.
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blue75 added 17:00 - Jan 13 He forgot Blackburn are a good team in a false position!!!
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MickMillsTash added 17:12 - Jan 13 I would play Webster in the Eric Dier role. Getting very depressed with all the moaning on here, we have not even played today - No one was murdered in El Salvador the other day can we have a day without moaning ?
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runningout added 17:20 - Jan 13 Bru needs to learn to run again.. playback Lincoln.. think he's getting tips from Donut muncher Douglas.. Both can be so much better :-/
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TimmyH added 19:45 - Jan 13 Well said Surco, some people need to wake up - the 'oblivion' might not be as bad as some people think rather than stagnating in this league season after season. A new manager in and we could get some momentum if we keep much of the squad. McCarthy getting the excuses in already in case another bad result crops up at 5pm tomorrow?
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