New signing Scott Fraser will start for the Blues in their opening game of the season against Morecambe at Portman Road on Saturday but centre-half George Edmundson and midfielder Jon Nolan remain sidelined.

Manager Paul Cook revealed earlier in the week that the former Rangers man would miss out against the Shrimps but says the unspecified issue isn’t one which will keep him out for too long.

“I don’t want to put timeframes on things in case I get them wrong,” he said. “There are protocols around fitness now at the club, lads being ready to play, which is huge. We don’t want to take risks with any of our players.

“Going into Saturday’s game, we have one or two injury problems around the camp, which is part and parcel of football.

“George is training really well at the minute, he looks very, very strong. We do feel he’s going to be a major asset to the club and hopefully we can get him on the pitch.

“We’re talking about sooner rather than later, that’s for sure. We’re not talking about a long-term injury here, we’re talking about shorter term for sure, so let’s see when he can be back.”

But he said there is better news regarding Fraser, who missed last week’s Millwall friendly with a calf problem

“Scott will start tomorrow,” Cook confirmed. “One hundred per cent Scott Fraser will be in the team.

“Again, probably a little bit off where we’d like him to be having missed a lot of pre-season now due to injuries and transfers etc, but great quality, fantastic quality and a fantastically talented player.

“A very clever player with assisting set pieces and goals, penalties and one of the ones that I’m very excited to see and to grow. That’s the big message to our supporters, let’s watch our players grow together.”

Jon Nolan suffered a knee injury which ended his 2020/21 campaign in March and has more recently picked up a calf problem.

“Jon’s still injured at the minute,” Cook said. “He’s had a really tough pre-season now. He did his calf on the first day and unfortunately for Jon, as we speak today, he’s now missed the whole of pre-season, which as you can imagine is a massive blow for Jon.

“These lads don’t want to be injured, they don’t want to not be fit. In my time here now, I haven’t seen Jon Nolan train.

“I’ve been here nearly six months now, it was March, I came in for 15 or 16 games at the end of the season possibly, maybe not that many, but I haven’t seen Jon.

“The Jon Nolan I remember was at Shrewsbury Town as a midfielder that was probably one of the best midfielders in the division. It’s been three years since I’ve seen Jon now.

“Jon will be a bit down about the injuries, he needs to pick himself up, get back fit and get back playing.”

Asked how confident he is that with all the investment on the sports science and medical side of the club over the summer that the almost constant injury crisis at the club of the last few seasons is a thing of the past, he said: “It’s football. Even if you look at Liverpool with the injuries they had with [Virgil] Van Dijk, [Joel] Matip and [Joe] Gomez at the back, it can happen.

“It’s football, there’s no magic to this game where we can go out and train and all come back in not injured. It’s a contact sport.

“I think the attention to detail at the club now I would imagine is at a level it’s never been at, so hopefully that can support and keep the injuries away.

“I’m not sure it will ever completely kill injuries off because that can’t happen, but certainly the lads the highest professionalism in that field that we can get.

“Returning to training, returning to playing, being fit to play, they’re all massive parts of the game now. I think we’re on board with everything we’re trying to do.”

Photo: Matchday Images

meekreech added 10:46 - Aug 6 Nolan is a permanent sick note, never going to be able to produce anything worthwhile. Even when he was “ fit “ he didn't produce and has been one of the biggest waste of money and time. I would far rather have some effort put into trying to change the situation with Downes as he is going to be more productive.
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DariusBlue added 10:52 - Aug 6 meekreech - I happen to agree. He has never shown anything that stands out and I wonder if his 'history' with Paul Cook is the only reason he is still there. Although our recruitment drive has been pretty bloody good on paper there does seem to be a theme with most players that they have worked with PC in the past. Whether that's a good thing or not we wait and see. In terms of Downes it looks unlikely that whatever has broken that relationship will not be forgiven, but last season he was the only player that really stood out consistently so its a shame.

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blueears added 11:03 - Aug 6 Nolan is only still here because he was injured when PC came in. If he had been fit then he would have been out the door by now,because lets face it he has been rubbish for most of the time he has been here. What we really need is a CB. A big brute with experience. As it is we start tomorrow with basically the same defence from 2 years ago, and that we all know doesnt work.

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Cheshire_Blue added 11:06 - Aug 6 So what's changed ?
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Suffolkboy added 11:16 - Aug 6 Pity that JN is not fit,can't get fit, or maybe has psychological issues which hamper his ability and capacity to contribute enthusiastically and consistently ,BUT we've never seen or witnessed him making perceptive or meaningful contributions at ITFC . One imagines contract renewal would be an automatic no- no , so the only way forward for this man to continue as a professional footballer is rehabilitation : steely determination needs to be eveident - but that's a characteristic we've not seen ! COYB

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ArnieM added 11:26 - Aug 6 Thing is Nolan wasn't a sick note, until he joined us. He's had one knee injury in the time he's been with us i think. And as always happens with injured players ,they always seem to pick up another injury during rehab and reintegration to the game. Hopefully (ell be back fit by the end of Aug, because (e was a good midfield with some fire in his belly. We need that in the team.

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Monkey_Blue added 11:37 - Aug 6 Not a fan on the “Bomb squad” but for the life of me can't work out why Nolan isn't in it given he's not better in fact not as good as some who are and displayed a terrible attitude: maybe being injured has saved his bacon?
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Nazemariner added 11:40 - Aug 6 Jon Nolan was the only goal scoring midfielder we had at the club. Hopefully he will return to fitness sooner rather than later, as he has plenty to contribute.
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Radlett_blue added 11:54 - Aug 6 If Cook is right & we are going to be cautious with injured players, rather than rushing them back, only for them to get injured again, that should be a positive. Some injuries are just bad luck, but Nolan hasn't trained for 6 months & is pretty much looking a write-off.
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DinDjarin added 12:01 - Aug 6 Dont get the hate for Nolan as put him in a team on the front foot couldbe as good as any of the new signings if he can find his Shrewsbury form.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:55 - Aug 6 Nolan needs to be shipped out asap, no room for these players who spend more time out than playing. Sorry Jon, hardly'' Roy of the Rovers, ''.
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Cheshire_Blue added 16:18 - Aug 6 someone has to replace Chambers as target for the abuse.
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Linkboy13 added 16:29 - Aug 6 Can't see that Nolan has contributed any less than over rated over hyped Downes think you will find he's scored more goals and had more assists. Once fit would send him out on loan for a period.
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