Town boss Mick McCarthy is hopeful midfielder Cole Skuse will be fit enough to be involved when the Blues face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, while he says top scorer Tom Lawrence, skipper Luke Chambers and centre-half Christophe Berra should all be over minor niggles and Myles Kenlock will travel having recovered from his calf injury.

“He’s been having treatment and nursing it all week,” McCarthy said regarding Skuse, who was substituted in the first half of last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Reading with an achilles injury.

“But he’s been out on the grass this morning and he’s come back in and he’ll be training with us tomorrow, so fingers crossed he doesn’t have any negative reaction from it and he’ll be fine for Saturday.”

McCarthy felt Grant Ward slotted into the three-man midfield well in Skuse’s place against the Royals.

“He did,” the Town manager added. “That’s what substitutes are there for, to make a difference. If somebody gets injured to come on and replace them and hopefully be better, but certainly not be any worse.

“And if we’re struggling to come on and make a difference and help us get back in a game or help us to win a game, and to be fair to Wardy he’s done that on every occasion he’s been called upon.”

Regarding the rest of his squad, he said: “Chambo’s not trained but he’ll train tomorrow and he’ll be fine. Tom Lawrence had a really nasty bruise on his foot, he’s not trained up until today, but he’s done a bit with Skusey and he looks like being fine.

“Christophe had a sore achilles, but again should be all right. So they’ve been nursing a few little bumps and bruises and niggles but I should have the same team to pick from and the rest of the squad should be fit.”

Kenlock and Smith made their returns to action in the U23s on Monday after a calf problem and back surgery respectively and McCarthy says the 20-year-old left-back will make the trip to the Midlands.

“Tommy Smith won’t be travelling, not after one game having been out for five months,” he said. “He’s not ready for that, he’d admit that himself.

“He played well on Monday night against Watford, it was a nice, easy game for him, to be fair. If you win 8-0 the centre-halves haven’t had much to do but what he did he did well.

“Kenlock’s different, he’s been out for four weeks, since QPR, and he’s not had a major back operation, so he’s in better shape to come with us.”

New winger Danny Rowe, who played 45 minutes for the U23s and impressed in the hammering of Watford, isn’t yet fully fit having joined the Blues from Macclesfield with a minor groin problem.

Jonny Williams (shoulder), Adam Webster (ankle), Luke Hyam and Giles Coke (both knee) remain sidelined, while new loanee Dominic Samuel, who scored a hat-trick in Monday’s U23s victory, will be available for the senior side for the first time having been ineligible against his parent club Reading last weekend.

Photo: TWTD

Blueboy added 14:34 - Feb 9 Oh dear, that's a shame!!
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iaintaylorx added 14:43 - Feb 9 Don't understand why Skuse gets the criticism he does to be honest. He does a really job job but it is always unnoticed. Yes, he does slow the play down a but, but in terms of breaking up play, he does a good job at it. However, he shouldn't start after Saturday. I've read we were a better team without him, and should keep Diags and Huws in that middle. He would be great to have on the bench though!

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Garv added 15:13 - Feb 9 Why hopeful?
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marco007 added 15:19 - Feb 9 Bring Patterson in :)
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hogster1970 added 15:21 - Feb 9 Well scuse is a solid player but not exceptional. Viagra ward and huw together was a great partnership and made a big difference if MM has half a brain that's what he will start with on Saturday. And maybe bring in myles aswell. But we will see. I know MM will go back to proper bloke default mode and we will be average in the middle again
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marco007 added 15:22 - Feb 9 And Kenlock for Knudsen
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braveblue added 15:29 - Feb 9 Skuse will be in and Ward dropped. Too young ans positive. All this tosh about Skuse work being unnoticed. It is because it makes no difference. He is one of the main drawbacks in our team. Knudsen in and Kenlock in bench. Can see MM thinking nil nil already.
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Westy added 15:30 - Feb 9 It was a good performance against Reading. Mick, please don't change it ! Let's worry about ourselves for a change and what we can do, not the opposition.
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cat added 15:30 - Feb 9 I really hope MM don't go back to his "undroppable" philosophy as it will be a shame after what's been an incouraging week. I for one would not put that past him though as MM is clearly his own man!. Remember, Skuse has been a major integral part of a struggling team for the last few months and it would be great to freshen things up, I won't hold my breathe though.
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Ferguson added 15:34 - Feb 9 Not impressed or worried by Villa. With McGoldrick, Lawrence, and the new players in midfield and defence I think this is a very winnable game. for us if MM makes the right selections and builds on last week. Samuel on the bench please. He'll be on fire after his hat trick and it'll keep him and his competitors for a place nice and keen. Let's see if we can get 3 points on the board, start looking up the table, AND get ready to celebrate a win at Carrot Rd ! COYB

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12th_Man added 15:45 - Feb 9 Should start with the same 11 that we ended with v Reading
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paulcooperisgod added 15:47 - Feb 9 Drop KNUDSEN BERRA SKUSE AND CHAMBERS and let's build a new team from Saturday as this season is over
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Taricco_Fan added 16:26 - Feb 9 Please don't start him. The Huws - Diagouraga - Ward midfield was so much more dynamic, energetic and positive. Skuse has his uses (defending a lead later in a game) but I would hope his days are numbered as a regular starter.
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bluelady added 16:35 - Feb 9 good I for one will be pleased to see him back in the team, Ward goes missing too often and a much better impact player. sorry for all those 'Skuse haters' I for one am a fan.
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hogster1970 added 16:42 - Feb 9 Amy downs come on cupcake drop the scuse love affair for the sake of the team lol
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Seasider added 17:02 - Feb 9 Oh dear,the above remarks looks as though he may be thinking of bringing Skuse straight back in. Why?It is not as if Mick is now struggling for bodies,with 7 new faces;but will the stubborn I know best,and the supporters know sweet f. a. return. I was not sure whether he has seen the light,after a couple of recent promising displays;interspersed with the usual rubbish.However it is clear,after just hearing the hour interview with Ian Milne,that pressure is at last being applied to the Dinosaur from above(and I don't mean Our Good Lord)to improve the entertainment value;so it looks as though at last Evans, Milne and Mark Andrews are concerned at the falling income.This has no doubt been conveyed to the Manager. The stay away fans can gain some satisfaction that their sacrifice has not been in vain;but we mustn't get too carried away, as recently a good display has been followed by a bad one;and despite witnessing the best game at Portman Rd for some considerable time,we only managed a draw which actually dragged the club a bit nearer the bottom three. I am hopeful of a good result on Saturday as I always am;but fear that it may not be so,as with the season nearly two thirds gone,Ipswich Town have yet to have a good run.

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hoppy added 17:09 - Feb 9 “He did,” the Town manager added. “That's what substitutes are there for, to make a difference. If somebody gets injured to come on and replace them and hopefully be better, but certainly not be any worse." But if he plays well, I won't keep him in the side if my favoured ones are fit again, so they'll go back to being a sub to come on if called upon... I read that next bit as.

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Daleyitfc added 17:15 - Feb 9 Skuse is the one player above all others that drags us down to a dismal level : Douglas and Hyam are others but they are not regular starters like Skuse, thankfully. If you have a decent defence, you don't need a defensive midfielder at all ; and if you must have one, at least pick someone who is capable of passing the ball forwards occasionally, which Skuse isn't. Just get rid of him.

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norfolkbluey added 17:16 - Feb 9 Please please don't play skuse Mick. The team against Reading need a chance to blend fully. If you love him that much marry him!
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jas0999 added 17:20 - Feb 9 Skuse has been excellent for us up until this season, where frankly he hasn't deserved to be an automatic starter. Not helped by partnering Douglas though. I do think he us better suited to an away game, but ultimately don't think he was missed at home last week.
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armchaircritic59 added 17:56 - Feb 9 Well said Daleyitfc. I've often puzzled over this "defensive midfielder" position myself. I've come to the conclusion that defences these days are largely made up of frustated players who were not good enough when young, to play in an offensive role, so reluctantly tried defending! Therefore requiring extra help. Certainly judging by the standards of defending i've seen on the box from many premiership sides, so god knows how bad it must be further down the ladder. Two left feet attached to two right legs springs to mind! I think i know why Alan Hansen couldn't do TV punditry anymore! I can well remember Billy Baxter who at 5ft 9ins could outjump opposing forwards several inches taller, on a regular basis, and could use the ball on the deck too. Where are these players today?

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phillo added 17:59 - Feb 9 I agree Douglas shouldn't start, he's solely the reason we are rubbish, not ft to wear our shirt, he's ...... what ... he's gone you say & we're crucifying Skuse now ..... oh sorry .... I agree Skuse shouldn't start, he's solely the reason we are rubbish, not fit to wear the shirt etc etc (PS if Skuse doesn't play again can I have an early heads up who's nominated for next fall guy ?)

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brittaniaman added 19:17 - Feb 9 Oh Skuse not fit, but might be, come off it DINO we were a lot better when he went off ! you cannot see it in your eyes ??? So why not give it a go without him and see if it would work Again please !!!
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greenkingtone added 19:39 - Feb 9 We should keep the side that finished against Reading. I hope Mick has the guts to leave Skuse out and try the new boys.
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dukey44 added 20:36 - Feb 9 Sorry but this just shows the true light of our manager and his favourite players. He went off injured and it's best we played for ages as a quick flowing football team again? Yet it sounds as if Mick couldn't have back out for 2nd half? Sorry Mick buy YET AGAIN YOU ARE WRONG TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT??
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