Teddy Bishop is backing Town to cope with the loss of fellow midfielder Jon Nolan as he serves a three-game ban following his late red card in the 1-0 defeat at new League One leaders Lincoln on Saturday.

Nolan is ruled out of tomorrow night’s home clash with Gillingham, the visit of Crewe on Saturday and the trip to face fellow promotion hopefuls Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday of next week.

Emyr Huws is the obvious candidate to plug the gap and slot in alongside Bishop and Andre Dozzell in the middle of the park, with Brett McGavin another candidate to have some match action in Nolan’s absence.

Bishop said: “Nolo had a very good start to the season, so we’ll miss him a lot. But at the same time, with a quality player like Emyr Huws to come in, hopefully it won’t weaken us too much and we’ll do the best we can.

“If it’s me, Andre and Emyr I think that’s a good engine room. We are all capable of doing it because we all get up and down and we’ve all got a lot of running in our legs.

“Brett is available as well and I really like him. I know he’s highly regarded here — they really like him, he’s a really good player, so maybe he’ll get a chance.

“He definitely should get that chance at some stage this season. He did well when he got his debut last season and went on to play other games. He’s very good and there are others under him who are good as well.

“And don’t forget Cole Skuse. I know he’s injured at the moment but we look forward to him being fully fit again.

“Actually, I can see similarities between Brett and Cole, and it’s a comparison I’ve heard a few times before. They are quite similar in the quality they have and the way they play.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long before Cole is back as well. We miss him and on a personal note I have loved playing alongside him since I came into the first team.

“He doesn’t just bring quality on to the pitch, he’s also very vocal and he’s a leader, like Chambo is. He has been missed and we’ll certainly welcome him back when he’s fit again.”

Town have suffered with injuries to many players so far this season, as well as the continued absence of Kane Vincent-Young, who has not been involved with the first team in exactly a year, the 3-1 win at Southend to be precise.

Bishop knows a fair bit about being sidelined, of course, and added: “We miss all the injured guys and feel for them. Flynn [Downes] is out and I’m gutted for him, although knowing the character he is he’ll be back in no time and when he does he’ll be flying. Also, Tristan [Nydam] is nearly back, which will be another big boost for us.”

Saturday’s narrow 1-0 reverse at Lincoln represented only Bishop’s second 90 minutes of the season so far and just the sixth of his senior career, but he pointed out: “I’ve been capable of a full 90 minutes in the past, it’s just that when you haven’t played a lot of games the risk factor of picking up an injury in the last 10 or 15 minutes is that much greater because the body hasn’t had a chance to get accustomed to it.

“It’s not been down to the fact that I’ve been unable to do it, but people looking after me and making sure that I’m ready for the next game. I’ve had the two complete 90 minutes this season and I’ve felt good towards the end of each of them. It’s a big step for me and it needs to continue throughout the rest of the season.”

Bishop also collected a rare yellow card late on at Sincil Bank following Nolan’s dismissal and he added: “I don’t get many but it was just heat of the moment stuff, handbags, a bit of pushing and shoving, nothing really.”

One thing Town will hope is that they are able to create more scoring chances tomorrow against a 14th-placed Gillingham side coming to Portman Road on the back of three 2-0 league defeats on the bounce and no goals scored in any of them.

“It’s a big week for us with two home games, followed by Sunderland away next Tuesday, and we’ll be looking for some goals and good results,” said Bishop.

“Teams will obviously look at the way we have been playing and Lincoln were a bit cautious, sitting off and trying to catch us on the break, which I thought they did well. We remained patient and tried to play but they made it really tough for us.

“It was a frustrating game for us. I felt I was fouled twice in the build-up to the penalty that decided it. Okay, with the second one he did get the ball, but he went through me to get it and you can’t do that in modern-day football.

“It was definitely a foul and I felt it, which is why I stayed down for about 30 seconds or so. It was really disappointing, the result, and that decision ultimately cost us because of what happened immediately afterwards.

“I haven’t seen a replay of the penalty incident. We watch individual clips, so I’ve watched my game again and seen where I can improve, but I haven’t seen the entire game.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Portman_Pie added 13:48 - Oct 26 I won't miss 'Nolo's' constant sideways and backwards passing. Warm welcome Huws...
5

grow_our_own added 14:07 - Oct 26 And passing to opposition. Nolan's had one decent season: Shrewsbury 17/18, even then he didn't make double figures in attacking midfield. Very occassionally he's in the right place at right time in oppo box, but this doesn't compensate for being a total panicker with the ball at his feet. 99% of the time he passes backwards or loses possession. At 28, he's as good as he's going to get and isn't League One promotion standard. Huws hasn't been much better lately, but there's the possibility he'll recapture the excellent form when he first arrived. We know what Nolan is (not) capable of. Neither are in the same league as Downes.

3

MickMillsTash added 14:15 - Oct 26 Everytime Nolan gets the ball even if on the half term he goes sideways or backwards - we need some imagination and talent from him and he's not got it. Played out of position or just Sh1te ? Im not sure but I won't be missing watching him. if we get 100,000 signatures can we ask Parliament to up the ban to 10 games ?
5

Billericay12 added 14:16 - Oct 26 You might but I won't !!!
2

Linkboy13 added 15:31 - Oct 26 Can someone explain to me what Huws has done in the last 2 years. We all know at his best he's probably the best player at the club, but now he doesn't create anything rarely scores a goal. So i think people should stop living in the past his days have sadly gone. The club badly needs a massive change of playing staff too many players have been at the club too long and have failed under various managers so why do we persist with them.

2

Billericay12 added 16:21 - Oct 26 Don't worry Linkboy31 we have Skuse to come back !!!
3

Bert added 18:15 - Oct 26 We can't judge Huws until he has had a run of games which he will now get. He is capable of being a decent player and adds some strength to what is otherwise a rather lightweight midfield; classy at times but too easily elbowed out.
2

Linkboy13 added 18:28 - Oct 26 Billericay 12 Another player past his best he's now an XSkuse. Bert how much longer have we got to wait for Huws to get fit, he's not capable of playing a long run of games because of his injury problems.
1

cat added 19:05 - Oct 26 Here we go, the anti ‘NoLo' (wtf lol) is kicking off again. If anyone on here can't see that he's a front footed player who drives the ball forward and adds goals to the team don't get it, then I suggest you go and watch him 😂😂
1

cat added 19:07 - Oct 26 BTW Huws has got quality in him, just needs to be more consistent.
0

Linkboy13 added 13:52 - Oct 27 Yes agree Cat when things start going wrong Nolan becomes a bit of a scapegoat. People have got to accept Huws better days have gone and although Nolan lacks the ability of Huws at his former best, at present he's far more effective as Huws doesn't create anything and is not a goal scoring threat neither.
0

rugbytomc added 15:29 - Oct 27 a lot of negativity on here! Nolan has been playing better for us this season than the last 2. No he isn't going to find that amazing forward pass but that midfield 3 is about balance - Dozzell is the creator supported by Bishop, Bishop is the runner supported by Nolan and Nolan is having to be the box to box player in the absence of Downes. Huws has been injured but like many others I'd love to see the form that earned him a permanent move and maybe the next 3 games is his perfect chance at just that. Where the midfield struggle at the moment is when we break forward, it's not clear who is to push on and support - and that's probably just nerves and a lack of familiarity. Hopefully over the next handful of games we'll see more cohesion and confidence and we'll see more Blackpool scorelines and less Doncaster ones. Hoping to see Woolfenden back tonight - him in for Toto and Huws for Nolan would be my only changes

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls