Blues boss Paul Lambert says Toto Nsiala is doing well as he continues his rehabilitation from the hamstring injury he suffered in the summer, the centre-half having played his third U23s game as Gerard Nash’s side were beaten 3-1 by Charlton at Portman Road last night.

“He’s done well,” Lambert said when quizzed on the former Shrewsbury man’s progress. “He’s been out for just short of two months. He obviously did the injury in Germany.

“He’s got some game-time under his belt. I thought last night he did fine for us. He’s doing alright.”

Also involved against the Addicks was on-loan winger Anthony Georgiou, who Lambert says needed a match having made only five senior sub appearances since joining the Blues from Spurs last month.

“Anthony I think is a big talent, that was just to give him a run-out, he’s been part of the first team and will continue to do that for us this weekend,” Lambert explained.

“Toto’s still doing the rehab side of it and getting games under his belt, but his time will come and once he gets the chance he’s got to show us what he can do.”

Luke Garbutt was also in the team which was beaten by Charlton, having played the full 90 minutes as he returned after his knee injury at the MK Dons last Tuesday before being an unused sub at Gillingham on Saturday.

“He got 90 minutes at the MK Dons, I had a feeling that on adrenalin alone he’d get through it,” he added.

“And that was why I left him out against Gillingham because he and Emyr [Huws], I had a feeling that [they would need a break], and that's why I changed it. But I knew they’d come into the reckoning again for Saturday.”

Regarding longer-term absentees Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears, who are both out with knee injuries, Lambert continued: “They’re doing great, the two of them. It’s seven months for Freddie, I think. He’s doing great. Hopefully he’ll be training in the not too distant future.

“Bish is doing really well as well. They’re two big players for us who will hopefully contribute before the season is out.”

Asked whether they're close to involvement in the U23s, he added: “That’s not my domain, the physios and the doctors will look after them that way and once they tell me that the lads think they're ready as well, then I’ll judge it from there.

“But they’ll definitely need some game time in the U23s, that’s normal but the important thing is they’re coming back fit.”

Bishop, who suffered his injury in Germany in pre-season, was expected to be back next month, while Sears, who tore his ACL in February, had been pencilled in for a November return.

Photo: TWTD

kozmik added 20:24 - Sep 24 Personally I thought Toto was rubbish last night tbh
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brian_a_mul added 21:05 - Sep 24 Toto doing fine= he played 90 min, no injuries or niggles, playing his way back to full fitness in near future. I would expect physios and doctors would be telling Toto to not take chances and not to go full tilt at this stage of rehab.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 00:46 - Sep 25 Yes, he is doing fine, but CB isn't one of those positions where you can just walk straight back in and be performing at the level you were. It's a position that takes great practice and discipline and Toto will only get that by playing games in the u23s. It'll click for him soon.
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RegencyBlue added 07:50 - Sep 25 I don't rate Nsiala at all from what I've seen of him so far. He always strikes me as an accident waiting to happen! I wouldn't be bringing him back to the first team any time soon personally.
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rugbytomc added 10:15 - Sep 25 Nsiala adds height much lacking in the current backline. With someone alongside him shouting instructions he can be good. On his own in the u-23s he might not look so good. Take Michael Dawson at spurs - looked brilliant alongside Ledley King and rubbish without him. Same with Cahill and Terry at Chelski. Ok Nsiala and Chambers not even in the same league as those guys, but the comparison of playing with and without someone remains. Good luck to him

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meekreech added 13:39 - Sep 25 Keep him out, red card waiting to happen! Too ready to go to ground or jump in at the wrong time.
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