Cole Skuse and Bartosz Bialkowski are over ankle and calf injuries respectively ahead of Saturday’s visit to Bolton, while Adam Webster, Grant Ward and Tom Adeyemi are all making progress.

Bialkowski trained today and McCarthy expects his keeper to be OK to face the Trotters: “I don’t think there’s been any adverse reaction to it, so fingers crossed he’ll be fine.”

Skuse was substituted against Leeds having again felt the ankle injury which has been hampering him in recent weeks but similarly will make the trip to Lancashire.

“Skusey’s trained today, he’s fine, remarkably,” McCarthy added. “He’s very durable as we’ve seen throughout his career here, he’s played games.

“I thought he was going for an injection but he didn’t, he felt better and he told me, ‘I’ll be training Thursday’, and guess what, he was.”

Regarding the availability of Webster (achilles) and Ward (groin) for Saturday, he added: “Webbo, no, Grant Ward, no. But both of them are improving. Tommy Smith’s fit.”

He says Webster’s not too far off a return: “The best case he’d have been here for Bolton, so that’s gone pear-shaped already.

“Worst case, I don’t think that’s on the horizon, he’s improving. He’s had his injections and he’s feeling better. Sooner rather than later.”

Midfielder Tom Adeyemi is finally on the way back after a lengthy absence with a hamstring problem having subsequently suffered a calf strain.

“He’s been out training today, that’s progress, he’s been out on the grass with Lids [fitness coach Andy Liddell],” McCarthy said.

“He seems to be progressing well. The next step is an U23s game, next week I would hope.”

McCarthy said Smith, who is closing in on a move to the Colorado Rapids and a reunion with his former New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson, missed the last two games due to being unwell, but the Blues boss hasn’t ruled out the 27-year-old being involved at the Macron Stadium.

“We’ll see,” the Town manager said. “While he’s an Ipswich employee, he’s contracted to play.”

Also back in the fold is Tristan Nydam, who played for the U23s earlier in the week following his hip problem and felt no ill effects.

“Tristan’s been training, which is great but Tristan’s a young lad, he’s not going to come in and change things completely, but it’s still nice to have him training," McCarthy said. "Other than that it’ll be what we had last Saturday.”

Photo: TWTD

Radlett_blue added 16:45 - Jan 18 Curiouser & curiouser, as Alice in Wonderland once said.
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Seasider added 19:15 - Jan 18 Looks like the injury crisis is easing?
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gosblue added 21:10 - Jan 18 I love that Skuse is going to Lancashire while the rest of the squad are going to Greater Manchester. LOL
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Seasider added 17:00 - Jan 19 Skues wasn't 100% fit for the last match;but was played,resulting in him missing training until yesterday;but we know Mick will play him regardless,even though we now have more personnel. Lets hope the risk of playing him doesn't backfire !
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