Midfielder Cole Skuse will be fit for Saturday’s opening game of the season against Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road having recovered from the thigh injury he suffered in the pre-season friendly at MK Dons.

Manager Paul Hurst said at lunchtime’s press conference: “He’s fine, he’s trained all week and he goes about his business extremely well.

“I think if it was up to him he would have liked to have been part of the game last weekend but I didn’t want to take any risks with him, so he’s fully fit and available.

“I want as many players as possible fit and available and if that means upsetting one or two because they’re not in the starting line-up or not even in the squad, I’d rather have that headache than be scratching around trying to find out who is fit and maybe contemplating putting Chris Doig on the bench or something like that!”

Hurst says Joe Garner won’t be involved as he returns from a knee injury: “It’s a difficult one with Joe, I’m not a physio or anything like that but I don’t think he’s too bad, in all honesty.

“But he’s not really been out on the training ground so he’s not available to us. Hopefully that will not be the case [for too long].”

Hurst says there are no new problems and some of the longer term injured are making progress: “No, we’ve had a good week’s training, there’s been more positive news in terms of Danny Rowe joining in training fully and Teddy Bishop.

“Emyr Huws has joined in in the last few days as a floater, easing him but all three are making good strides and there are positive signs for us.”

Photo: TWTD

baxter7 added 15:39 - Aug 2 Hope he plays the 3 in midfield who played against West ham coybs
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marinersgod added 15:41 - Aug 2 Feel a bit sorry for Huws, not sure being described as a floater is great!!!
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Currie10 added 15:45 - Aug 2 ' One phone call can change everything ' Essentially trying his best to offload Waghorn.
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grinch added 15:46 - Aug 2 i think the 3 who played in midfield against west ham will get totally bashed by blackburn to lightweight creative but lightweight we need someone in there to stand up to blackburn win the ball and give to someone creative only 2 of the 3 can play imoa
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Stato added 15:55 - Aug 2 Skuse will start so wont be the midfield that played against west ham
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OsborneOneNil added 16:02 - Aug 2 Teddy, Rowe and Huws all training......that's tremendous news.
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afcfee added 16:06 - Aug 2 Shouldn't start IMO, I know the West ham game was only a friendly but haven't seen that much energy in midfield for a while would be a shame if the same 3 didn't play.
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afcfee added 16:09 - Aug 2 And if not the same 3 then definitely Chabolah over Skuse. People try and act like we are solid with Skuse but the fact is we let in countless goals always look open too slow too weak.
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OohOohSamassiAbou added 16:51 - Aug 2 IMO Skuse should start. Downes, Dozzell and Nydam played well on Saturday but are 18,19 and 19 (I think), and Dozzell/Nydam were blowing by 60 mins. I think we need Skuse in there as an old head at the moment. I was really impressed how the three rotated positions on Saturday at times, not sure Skuse is able to do that, but then we may be surprised and he has been shoehorned into a role previously and has more to his game.

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therein61 added 17:24 - Aug 2 Re your post is suggesting that Skuse is the man to stand up to Blackburn then I would say he is as lightweight as any and a sight slower.
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BlueMachines added 18:50 - Aug 2 I didn't rate Skuse under MM. Too negative. The times Skuse looked decent was when he was forward thinking. It just didn't happen often enough. Hopefully PH will get the best out of him.
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Terry_Nutkins added 18:54 - Aug 2 It will disappoint a few but Hurst has come in and immediately seen Skuse is one of the best footballers in the squad and will play if fit throughout the season. It would be the same whoever came in. Because he isnt an a ttacking midfielder really messes with some fans heads "1 goal in 100 odd games..nuff said". He is excellent at his job. Is he built like Waghorn? No. Is he lightweight. Absolutely not. Very brave in the tackle but more important intelligwnt to know when to dive in, when to stand off and when to nip in and take the ball away. He is one of those players who does everything well without being spectacular. But very very accomplished footballer. Never going to be an off your chair player but that misses the point of why he is so valuable to any team.

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afcfee added 19:12 - Aug 2 Come on stop being biased he's not good enough I reckon he'll be on the bench most of the season
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