Skipper Luke Chambers has joined Town’s already lengthy injury list ahead of Saturday’s home game against Brentford, adding to the Blues’ desperate need to add another centre-half to their squad.

Chambers underwent lengthy treatment during Tuesday’s 4-3 win at Millwall and is believed likely to be out for up to a month for what's understood to be an ankle problem.

Town are already without fellow central defenders Tommy Smith (hamstring) and Adam Webster (ankle) and manager Mick McCarthy was on the lookout for an additional centre-half even before Chambers suffered his knock.

We understand the Blues are hopeful of adding a player to their squad today having approached a number of targets in the last few days.

TWTD understands that 24-year-old Brighton defender Connor Goldson, who recently returned to action having undergone heart surgery in March, is among the players the Blues have made an approach for in the last few days.

Goldson was with Shrewsbury and Cheltenham (loan) before joining the Seagulls in August 2015.

Players, including loan signings, need to be registered by noon today in order to be eligible for Saturday's match.

Jordan Spence played alongside Chambers in a central pairing at Millwall but like Jonas Knudsen is primarily a full-back. Both are more comfortable in a back three, which seems likely to be the way the Blues will line-up against the Bees.

Dominic Iorfa sees his future as a centre-half but has played most of his senior football at right-back.

Luke Woolfenden, 18, made his first-team debut as a sub in the Carabao Cup at Luton last week but McCarthy would be loath to include the academy product from the start at this stage of his career.

Photo: TWTD

CavendishBlue added 11:06 - Aug 18 Emmanuel needs to be recalled from season long loan and sharpish!!!!
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itfcserbia added 11:06 - Aug 18 So then, for tomorrow it's Kenlock-Knudsen-Spence-Iorfa the last 4, literally :)
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WBTG94 added 11:10 - Aug 18 Recall Emmanuel, buy back Clarke from Pompey and throw the Wolf in! Always thought Clarke looked good, always a standout performer in the U23's and I was very surprised he left - he's now got 74 games under his belt and still only 20!
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barrystedmunds added 11:11 - Aug 18 No brainier! Captain Bart!
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TimmyH added 11:16 - Aug 18 God god!...can't remember a season starting off like this for injuries etc. (1978 was bad)...looks like Mick will be starting tomorrow with 6 strikers.
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Lightningboy added 11:16 - Aug 18 The ironic thing is that many are probably thinking that we should've given a contract to injury prone Steven Taylor - who no doubt would also be injured by now. I'd go with Spence,Iorfa,Knudsen,Kenlock for now.
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Lightningboy added 11:17 - Aug 18 ...and yes,bring back Emmanuel.
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DurhamTownFan added 11:18 - Aug 18 IF we still had Emmanuel, then spence and Ifora, simple. I agree we need another though, especially if we're going to keep trying 352 (which I hope we do because it seems to result in the ball on the floor more)
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Bildestoned added 11:21 - Aug 18 In Knudsen we trust!!
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cleggo added 11:24 - Aug 18 Skuse at RB where he's played before and Iorfa CB
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bigolconnor added 11:28 - Aug 18 Happy enough with Kenlock, Knudsen, Iorfa, Spence. Skuse for captain (Bart needs to concentrate on keeping the inevitable barrage out). Also agree that Taylor would probably be injured too. Another thing. How many times has MM put someone straight into action having not trained with the squad. It's got to be 4 or 5.
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Mark added 11:31 - Aug 18 Relying on 3 centre backs was always risky, but all 3 getting injured in the first month is terrible luck. At least the transfer window has not yet closed. Looks like we will need to bring in 2 more. Easier said that done, but games are coming thick and fast at the moment so we have to act fast.
3

BrettenhamBlue added 11:38 - Aug 18 We can't recall Emmanuel until Jan, part of his loan contract.
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bigolconnor added 11:39 - Aug 18 Florin Gardos of Southampton's contract ends in 2018 and is valued at just £2.25 million. He hasn't played this season. Just a thought.
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BrettenhamBlue added 11:42 - Aug 18 As I've written in the forum, Nyatanga or Kevin Wilson sseem most obvious free agents right now. On the loans front Kean Bryan and Josh Knight seem most obvious targets, especially as City are looking to loan Bryan out to a Championship club.
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Currie10 added 11:46 - Aug 18 Josh cannot come back until January earliest so that's a non starter.
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bigolconnor added 11:49 - Aug 18 How about Josh Meekings. Get the Bury St Edmunds lad back home.
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ChestnutSe added 11:55 - Aug 18 Chambo will be sorely missed although Iofa and Knudsen will do a good job I'm sure. Down to the bare bones. Get back Mills, Warks, Burley and the Beat.
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whosroundisitanyway added 12:01 - Aug 18 So if we've got someone it must be done by now?
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patthegimp added 12:01 - Aug 18 Bru any good as RB!!
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Ferguson added 12:04 - Aug 18 Just crazy injuries. There's got to be something weird going on in our training programmes. AND illness on top! If Evans ever gives up the shirt sponsorship we'd probably end up sponsored by Deep Heat or Lemsip !
4

BrettenhamBlue added 12:06 - Aug 18 Skuse or Ward can both play RB, but would require us to add to midfield. Ledley on a short-term contract in midfield might prove beneficial if we are going to play either of them there.
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BrettenhamBlue added 12:10 - Aug 18 Goldson has also been approached, according to Phil.
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dugoutdave added 12:14 - Aug 18 Strange how we are all worried about losing a guy we all wanted dropped last season !
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Len_Brennan added 12:19 - Aug 18 Whatever happens now we are going to be severely weakened at the back for the Brentford game. Even if we do get someone in (and they'll have to be signed up already at this stage) and someone good, he'll be thrown into a defence he'll have little or no experience of playing/training with come kick off. Putting 2 full back like Spence & Knudsen together as a pair would be far too risky IMO. Both have played reasonably well, to be fair, when required as part of a 3 man defence, but that was alongside an established centre half as well. If we haven't managed to get someone new in time, I think Mick is should play Iorfa alongside them in a 3 man defence; at least then there is extra protection (if not extra confusion). Kenlock & Ward can play as wing backs, Skuse will be needed in the middle with an even more defence-minded role than normal and after that ... hey, just go for it with a direct attacking strategy. Another 4-3 would do nicely & we know our strikers are in confident form in front of goal at the moment. Let's just hope we get no more injuries & Bart has a good breakfast tomorrow morning.

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