Town have no new injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s first Championship home game of the season against Stoke City but right-back Harry Clarke’s achilles problem, which he has had since last season, continues to require management.

Clarke, who spent a spell on loan with the Potters last season, came on as a sub in the 2-0 Carabao Cup tie against Bristol Rovers on Wednesday but while not over his injury.

“We just have to get his management right because he has an ongoing achilles issue,” manager Kieran McKenna said. “When you have a tendon issue you have a delicate balance, so he’s missed a lot of training.

“We wanted to get him on the pitch for some limited minutes on Wednesday rather than training, but he still has missed some training and hasn’t started a game since [the friendly away against Austrian side] Admira Wacker and he was in some pain in that game.

“It’s something that we’re managing and the medical team. We feel like it’s gradually progressing in the right way but it’s one that we’ll have to try and manage over the next few weeks and what minutes and what training minutes are going to be right for the team and set him up for a good season.”

Is the issue partly due to the harder pitches this time of year? “That’s one thing. I’m not medically qualified to give all the reasons for a tendinopathy but I think typically you do find if you change surfaces, which is one thing when you go on camps and play in different stadiums in pre-season and harder surfaces, they tend to be tougher on players with tendon issues, which is quite a few of our players and I think is pretty common in a lot of squads, but Harry’s got one at the minute that is just taking a little bit more management.”

McKenna says there are no significant injury concerns aside from keeper Christian Walton, who is out with a plantar fascia tear.

“No, of course, you have little things throughout the squad,” McKenna continued. “But Harry’s the main one that’s being managed but he’s trained today. It’s only really Christian Walton who is out at the moment.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Help added 14:46 - Aug 11 Best 11 forward then. And a fine win me thunks
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Bluefox added 15:41 - Aug 11 So what's going on with Kyle Edwards - nowhere to be seen in either of the last two squads? Is he injured or about to be sold?
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FreddySteady added 15:58 - Aug 11 Always a bit nervous when injuries are “managed” in this way. Shades of The Beat.
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Suffolkboy added 16:15 - Aug 11 KM no different to his usual demeanour — thoughtful ,careful but as open and straightforward as a situation demands .Plainly neither he or the Medics can provide a definitive answer or time scale , and it is the sort of injury / damage for which total a total recovery is at the least challenging . HC has a bag of talent , let’s all wish him the very best, for his commitment and sheer enthusiasm was obvious — any squad would be glad to have him back on duty ! COYB

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Linkboy13 added 16:25 - Aug 11 Wouldn't risk Clarke ,Donacian did very well at Sunderland although is always a bit weak when defending balls in the air in the penalty area. McKenna is a big fan of Clarke so i expect he will play him.
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jas0999 added 16:26 - Aug 11 Slightly concerning regarding Clarke. I’m sure we will soon sign defensive reinforcements.
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Naylorsrightboot added 17:13 - Aug 11 Clarke will end up needing surgery. Instead of this pussy footing about if they had got on with it he would be on the road to recovery now, all be it a long road. Took me a year to get going properly with the same sort of problems.
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ghostofescobar added 17:33 - Aug 11 FreddySteady - the very lightest shades of the Beat, I think. Sports science has moved on beyond all comparison since the 1970's, thankfully. I'm sure what they are trying to do is avoid an operation, which is then a proper long term recovery.
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Wickets added 17:43 - Aug 11 Edwards wants to start more games so looks likely he is on his way .
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Stu_Magoo added 18:51 - Aug 11 Says he's not qualified, whips out the word "tendinopathy". Gotta love that man!!!
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FreddySteady added 09:22 - Aug 12 @ghostofescobar You’re probably right to some extent. Just been reading Paul Mariner’s book and those days were fresh in my mind.
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