Town boss Kieran McKenna says skipper Sam Morsy is itching to get back in action ahead of Saturday’s trip to MK Dons having completed his four-match ban, while there are a few bumps and bruises following Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Doncaster but nothing more serious.

“There are one or two little niggles and knocks as usual, what you get from a game but we’re hoping that everyone will be fit and available, we’ll just have to wait one more day,” McKenna said.

“The players who played the other night had a very light session today, so hopefully everyone can get through the last session tomorrow.”

Morsy was suspended by the FA following a clash with Accrington midfielder Ethan Hamilton but is able to return at Stadium MK having served his time on the sidelines.

“He’s itching to go,” McKenna said. “He’s been competing like a real warrior here for the last few weeks, to be fair, trying to get himself on the winning team in every small-sided game and everything that we do in training. He’s been finding different ways to compete, which he likes to do.

“He’s itching to get back in the action, back on the pitch and help the team, so it’ll be nice to have him available for Saturday.”

Asked whether he ever has to tell a player to slow down in training, McKenna said: “Not really, I’m a fan of training of how you play. I want training to be very competitive, I want them to tackle each other in training, I want it to be intense.

“Sam’s one who does that and really leads that for us. That’s an important part of how we work, is having that intensity in training.

“We’ve missed Sam for the games but he’s been a leader for us in the training sessions over that time, so that’s been useful.”

Town won three of the four games Egypt international Morsy missed and McKenna has strength in depth in the centre of midfield.

“We have good options there, which is why we enabled a couple of people to leave over January because we feel like we have good options in that area,” he said.

“Sam being back is a big bonus, disappointed to lose him for any game, to be honest, certainly not for four games, but we did miss him over that spell.

“Lee [Evans] being back is a big asset to us, a really important player, good experience and positional sense and know-how in the middle of the pitch for us.

“He’s still managing his little niggle [groin] a little bit so is still not quite 100 per cent so we’ll have to see if he’s going to be available to play every minute or not.

“And good options with Tyreeq [Bakinson] coming in, he’s getting better game by game, I’m enjoying seeing his development over the last few games.

“Idris [EL Mizouni] did well in his game against Sheffield Wednesday we felt with the performance and is more than capable of contributing.

“And, of course, we’ve got Tom Carroll, who has played in the Premier League, a high quality footballer.

“So we have different types, different options in midfield and obviously it’s my job to pick whichever two or three that we might go for in any given game.

“And I think the boys respect each other, they know each of them has different things to bring and whoever is selected for any given game, everyone will get behind them.”

Photo: TWTD

MaySixth added 15:15 - Feb 10 Will be good to have Morsy back. Lads have done well to win 3 out f 4 in his absence
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Linkboy13 added 15:41 - Feb 10 Normally i would say never change a winning team. But the performances haven't been great against two poor teams. I would bring him back and play Bakinson just in front of the defence. Most if not all teams have a defensive midfielder and this has been one of our weaknesses this season. England actually play with two in Rice and Phillips and have been much tighter since.

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not_a_witty_name added 15:45 - Feb 10 Hopefully he's going to be that extra spark to give us three wins in a row COYB
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chepstowblue added 15:56 - Feb 10 I don't dislike Morsy but cannot understand why he's a 'must pick'. He's the main reason why the ball is distributed so slowly through midfield and tends to bog us down with his sideways/backwards passes. If he's recalled...so be it, but I don't see the justification through his performances up to now. I also believe that Edmundson is far better equipped and has the qualities and character to be first choice captain. I really don't us to be modelling ourselves on England by having two defensive midfielders. They bored the rest of Europe into submission last summer......I wouldn't travel to Milton Keynes to watch that !

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dirtydingusmagee added 15:58 - Feb 10 good that he is back, just hope he can stay out of trouble now. We have been fortunate not to have paid a high price for his absence .
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chepstowblue added 16:00 - Feb 10 ....and let's not forget that Morsy was on the pitch at Charlton and Accrington where the performances were appalling. Obviously not all his fault, I'm just saying 'he's not a God', and we're no better/no worse whether he plays or not !
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JewellintheTown added 16:08 - Feb 10 Hoping he's going to restrain himself to not getting banned again but I suspect he's fired up and going to be like a rodeo horse out of the stalls. We'll need him for the rest of the season if we have any chance of going up. Think we've missed him but fortunately got off a little lightly while he's been gone.
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SussexTractor added 16:09 - Feb 10 Interesting comments already. The 4-2-3-1 formation works well for England but did not work for Ipswich under Paul Cook. Morsy works better with 3 at the back and with an extra man in midfield to give him options to make his passes. He also battles well to get the ball back.
5

TimmyH added 16:21 - Feb 10 I know it's part of his game but he has to try and stop treading a fine line...saying that glad to have him back, I'd like to see Aluko come back in as well (almost refreshing the midfield). As for upfront I haven't a clue.
5

Edmundo added 17:03 - Feb 10 In a midfield 3 this weekend I'd go for Morsy, Evan's (if fit) and Bakinson, just for physicality more than anything. We need to be aggressive and shake MK Don's down.
0

Linkboy13 added 17:15 - Feb 10 Don't think chepstow blues ever played the game before with his comments. Ourbest performances have been with Morsy in the team Wycombe home and away and Doncaster at home. Edmundsons performances if you've been watching have dipped since he's been captain. Be amazed if he's not playing on Saturday McKenna has hinted that he will be. Probably one of the few players at the club who's an automatic choice when fit.

7

Suffolkboy added 17:37 - Feb 10 K M's a thinker and practical man ,as well as a great communicator ; he'll be sure to want now to consolidate at the back , educate and improve understanding and output mid field, AND really sort out how to capitalise on the talents we do have , improve their performance and see a more( much) effective scoring unit . We are relative failures in the ‘front ‘ line , and near total failures from corner situations ; there are elements still available to (vastly) improve ! Overall we are doing really well ,much to admire , lots to be thankful about and bucketfuls to enthuse about ., COYB

1

LegendofthePhoenix added 17:44 - Feb 10 Morsy returning is immense, before he started playing we were a complete pushover in midfield. Everyone has gained confidence since he has been here, and his aggression is a necessary part of his game (listen to James Norwood's interview for a good explanation of "sh1thousery") - just as long as he doesn't get banned again. With Morsy, I think we could well be in the hunt for a playoff spot. Without him, no chance. Saturday is a massive game, if we get 3 pts we are in the mix.

1

SheptonMalletBlue added 18:05 - Feb 10 Chepstow blue, why don't you go and support Newport?!!!
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brassy added 18:36 - Feb 10 sheptonmalletblue there is one in every pub they award them the wooden spoon we call them muck stirrers. COYBS
1

jas0999 added 19:53 - Feb 10 Could be the difference between a win or loss here. Two straight forward Hanes - great results - bit Saturday is a tougher test. Big game.the skipper is a big game player.
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ringwoodblue added 20:28 - Feb 10 I think we should acknowledge Edmondson for taking on the captaincy for the last four games. Having Morsy back gives us that leadership and strength in our midfield which has looked lightweight in his absence and it allows Edmundson to concentrate on his defensive role that has suffered recently. I sincerely hope Morsy learns from his lesson and doesn't get sent off or pick up stupid bookings for the rest of the season.

1

Saxonblue74 added 21:45 - Feb 10 Could have missed him a whole lot more, just fortunate that 3 of the 4 game ban were against very weak opposition. With his return and no real injury worries we're at full strength at a crucial stage. COYB
1

bluesman added 21:50 - Feb 10 @chepstowblue How many town games do you get to? Morsy gives us time and quality distribution as well as a competitive edge every game I've seen him play. In a class on his own
3

mervetheswerve added 21:54 - Feb 10 chepstow blue like earliar post you could not have played football with that sort of comment. you must be one of the moaners who come on here with your negative comments.we need players like Morsy to get out of this crap league
2

Linkboy13 added 10:38 - Feb 11 Don't be too harsh on chepstow blue we all have our own opinion . But i do find people who play the game or ex players have a far different outlook on the game. Take for example Mick Mills who tends to divide opinion with his views because he says it as it is and most fans just want to hear how brilliant we are. Nearly everything he says i tend to agree with apart from his early criticism of Donasien which he now admits he was in the wrong. So come on chepstow blue don't go into hiding ive had hundreds of negative marks but couldn't give a ship.

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micky_1560 added 14:03 - Feb 11 I don't agree with Chepstow blue and have played the game. But he is entitled to his opinion, as we now know, if Morsey plays well, Ipswich play well, if he has a bad game, we usually struggle. I would always play him, but not sure as a captain because that means if he isn't haven't a good game, he still probably won't be replaced. We have great options at the moment and McKenna seems to be judging who we need for each game rather well. In saying that, I feel sorry for Piggot who I believe has goals in him, but not had the rub of the green in front of goal. I don't rate Bonne, he doesn't seem to take up the positions for the loose ball in the box like Norwood does and should have had a couple of goals the other night.

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