Blues boss Kieran McKenna says deadline day signing Panutche Camara will be involved in Monday’s FA Cup first round tie at Bracknell but still has a little way to go before he reaches full fitness.

The 25-year-old Guinea-Bissau international joined Town from Plymouth suffering from a groin problem and so far his only senior involvement has been the second half of the Papa Johns Trophy tie at Cambridge United.

“He's getting closer but still not there yet,” McKenna said. “He played 60 minutes for the U21s last Friday but didn't feel capable to complete any more.

“So he's still working his way back physically. I think it's six months since he had any matches and has missed quite a lot of time, and that's part of the challenge.

“The other challenge is adjusting to the intensity of how we play and how we train. There's an adjustment there for any player and, of course, that is much bigger when you're coming back from quite a lot of time without training properly or in matches.

“He'll be involved in the game on Monday night for sure and hopefully will have some good minutes on the pitch. But in terms of finding his best level, we still think he's got a little way to go.”

Quizzed on whether he’s planning to shuffle his squad for the visit to Bottom Meadow, he said: “I think the starting XI has changed in every game this season, so we'll pick a team as we do for every game that will have enough to win the game.

“We don't have big numbers and we're training with 15 or 16 at the moment. All of those players have started league games over the last month or so, if I'm right. That will be the batch that we go into this game with as well.

“So same as every game, we'll look at the opposition, look at our boys and come up with a team and a strategy that we think is going to be most suitable to go and win the game.”

Photo: Steve Waller

Linkboy13 added 17:10 - Nov 4 Cannot afford to rush him back need him fit for the big games coming up Peterborough, Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday etc.
1

Suffolkboy added 17:26 - Nov 4 No fuss , no unnecessary drama , just gets on with the job in hand ! COYB
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls