Joe Garner has travelled with the Town squad to Middlesbrough for tomorrow’s game at the Riverside having overcome his foot injury, while fellow striker David McGoldrick is set to make his return next Saturday when Reading visit Portman Road. Skipper Luke Chambers will be back for the Boro game after his one-match ban.

“He’s trained, he trained yesterday, he trained fully today,” manager Mick McCarthy said regarding Garner, who has missed the last two matches, the victories over Derby and Nottingham Forest, at his lunchtime press conference prior to joining his players on the coach to the North-East.

“He got involved with the ball and he’s done everything that you’d want him to do, so he’s travelling, he’s in the squad.

“It’s good to have him back. Thankfully, we didn’t miss him. I get that question every week, ‘Will we miss Luke Chambers, will we miss whoever?’ and I say every time that I hope we don’t, and we haven’t. But it’s damned good to have him back though.”

Regarding McGoldrick, who has been out after suffering a gash to his groin in the Sheffield Wednesday match, he added: “Next Saturday, that’s the plan. His wound has healed up, he’s been out on the grass today and if everything goes well, next Saturday.”

Midfielder Tom Adeyemi (hamstring) and central defender Tommy Smith (calf) are also both making good progress.

“Tommy Smith’s training, he won’t be travelling tomorrow, but he’s training, he’s OK, he’s fit, he just needs to get some match practice as much as anything,” the Blues boss continued.

“And Tom Adeyemi smiled and said he’d turned a corner today. I bumped into him in the corridor, maybe it was that corner, I don’t know. He’s feeling a lot better about himself.”

McCarthy says it won’t be too long before they’re both involved with the first team again: “I hope so, of course. We’ve used probably the fewest players in the league, so to get good players back would be a real benefit to us.”

Luke Hyam is also back in training having undergone knee surgery in September but the Town manager says he’s still some way from returning to the squad.

“Hyamsy was out on the grass today with David McGoldrick but I’m not going to be talking about involving him in the team just yet.”

Tristan Nydam misses the trip to Teesside with a knock to his hip, but Flynn Downes is back from a one-match ban, as is captain Chambers, who McCarthy has confirmed will return to the centre of the defence.

The Blues boss says whoever drops out - almost certainly either Dominic Iorfa or Jordan Spence - will realise why even if they won’t be entirely happy.

“They’ll understand it but they might not like it, but that doesn’t bother me because Chambo’s a really important part of us,” he said.

“I was going to say we didn’t miss him last week but we conceded two goals. Thankfully we’ve got a really good threat at the other end and scored four. He’s great. We miss him in terms of his voice and his organisation and his captain’s skills, he’s great.”

Photo: TWTD

unknown100 added 13:45 - Dec 8 Saturdays performance was brilliant, wouldn't change it, albeit a few defensive lapses but very impressed with waghorn centre forward, great balance, keep it the same, I guess chambers in for Iorfa who was poor but don't trust chambers
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OohOohSamassiAbou added 13:51 - Dec 8 As if Hyam isn't suffering enough with injury, he seems to also have the worst nickname at the club.. Hyamsy is awful. Poor guy
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GerkensBeard added 14:07 - Dec 8 Chambers back in with Spence moving to right back will be the same defence that kept a clean sheet at Derby. Let's not get carried away about our form though. 3 of the goals we scored Saturday were defensive mistakes but it's great that we're finally punishing them. Our second goal which Iorfa got was a great move. We were at our attacking best Saturday when Jonas was overlapping Bersant. Got to give it to Jonas he's developed his talents as a crosser of the ball. Can't whip the ball in but stands the ball up to the back post probably as good as any Left Back in the league. 3 points tomorrow and I feel will be so confident and unstoppable against reading.

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christiand added 14:23 - Dec 8 It will be inter sting tomorrow because on paper Middlesboro' have a terrific side and should be higher than where they find themselves currently. That said, I think we have a decent chance to win at the Riverside, seems an unhappy camp at Boro' at the moment. I think Reading will be the tougher fixture they are starting to pick up, so don't underestimate them.
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Cakeman added 14:44 - Dec 8 I agree unknown100, I am old school and believe a winning team should not be changed. Also agree with Christiand that Reading will be tougher. It will be nothing like the Forest game as Reading are very boring and slow in the build up. We will need an early goal to get them out of their own half.
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baxter7 added 15:01 - Dec 8 How can you change a side thats has just won 4-2 no player no matter how good they are in chambers place how bad they are should come straight back in the side what affect it will have on the player being dropped mcarthy your a moron
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cat added 15:14 - Dec 8 Completely agree Baxter7. The favourites scenario will remain as long as his here. You don't appear to win a place on merit in certain positions in a MM team. It's hardly the case that Chambers has been world class, imo he's struggled big time this season. It's becoming awkward just watching him play. Counting down the months til MM goes, whatever happens this season.
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GerkensBeard added 16:22 - Dec 8 I think the favourites scenario can be said about other players in the squad. But seriously is there any manager in the league who wouldn't bring back their captain after a 1 game ban. And if you watched Iorfa against Forest he was all over the place albeit his goal. And spence didn't cover himself in glory at centre half either. Same defence that started and kept a clean sheet against Derby please

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