Blues boss Kieran McKenna says forward Omari Hutchinson will be out for a number of weeks with the groin injury which sidelined him for today’s 2-2 draw at Fulham.

The 21-year-old was ruled out of the game against the Cottagers at Craven Cottage and McKenna confirmed that it’s not a one-match issue.

“Weeks, yes,” he said at his post-match press conference. “It’s his groin. It was actually at the very start of training, the first session back after Chelsea. He put a helluva shift in at Arsenal and against Chelsea, so it’s an overuse injury, really.

“But they’re going to happen over the course of the season, especially with the output that Omari’s having to give at the moment.

“Disappointed to lose him today. Of course, it’s the FA Cup next weekend and we’ll recover him as quickly as we can.”

Hutchinson is far from the first player the Blues have lost to injury this season with Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring) and George Hirst (knee) both still working their way back after their second fitness issues of the campaign, while Chiedozie Ogbene is expected to miss all but the final knockings of the campaign having undergone achilles surgery.

Nathan Broadhead missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury and Jacob Greaves also missed a long spell with a similar issue, and on top of that skipper Sam Morsy and Liam Delap recently served suspensions for amassing five bookings.

Given those restrictions, McKenna says it’s been an impressive from his squad up to now. Although in 18th, the Blues are now only goal difference away from safety.

“It certainly has,” he said. “We don’t speak about the injuries too much, but we’ve missed important players all season and the Christmas games included, we missed Liam, we missed Samy with a suspension, we missed Omari and the group’s done ever so well, I have to say.

“We’ve had to make more changes at times than we would have wanted but everyone in the group is fighting, everyone’s pulling in the same direction, everyone is fighting for the team cause but also we’ve got lots and lots of players who are standing up on an individual level, which happens when you have a good group that are all fighting for a cause.

“Players have a chance to show themselves well individually as well and it’s a testament to the group.

“There’s still pretty much half the season to go. Of course, we’ll look back on the first half but really it’s about looking forward and hopefully we’ll have good availability for the second half of the season, hopefully we’ll make some good additions in January and keep trying to take on this really, really big challenge of trying to compete at this level.”

Photo: Matchday Images

budgieplucker added 17:27 - Jan 5 Understand the rationale now for wanting Philogene on loan.
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blueboy1981 added 17:27 - Jan 5 Didn’t have that when he did the Backflip ?
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Ipswichbusiness added 17:32 - Jan 5 Frustrating, but Szmodics and Broadhead are playing well and it gives Clarke a chance to step up and show what he can do.
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gsoly added 17:47 - Jan 5 He can have a month out in exchange for the goal and backflip as far as I'm concerned.
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ArnieM added 17:48 - Jan 5 ANOTHER long term injury then. So where did this happen, in a game, or training again?? I foubt thus is the reason we are signing a CB ( Godfrey), as Omari is an attacker. I'd loan out both J Clarke and Al-Hanafi. Both are far too lightweight for PL and offer little when they come on. In fact had McKenna not brought thisevteo weak attackers on but hone for more experienced, defensive minded players ( Burgess) etc to see the game out,we'd probably have won today.

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Wallingford_Boy added 18:36 - Jan 5 Arnie - article says weeks, not long term. It also says done in training. Try reading the article.
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blues1 added 18:47 - Jan 5 ArnieM Try reading the story 1st. All hes actually said for sure, is he won't be fit for the fa cup. So could only be 2 weeks, 3 if u include this,week, as he picked up tge injuryvin the 1st training session after the game. .
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blues1 added 18:49 - Jan 5 Blueboy1981. If ud reqd the story ud see hexpicked itcuo in the 1st training session after the chelsea game. Just a result of how much effort he'd had to put in, in those last 2 games.
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churchmans added 19:33 - Jan 5 ArnieM Read the article! And why loan out Clarke and taylor? They are our players and we need them to start,come on as sub to affect to game or be ready incase we get injuries! Loan them out for what exactly! Prem leauge experience in the championship or to get injured! They are fine players and we fortunate to have them
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Johnny_Boy7 added 19:43 - Jan 5 Clarke was very unlucky not to be on the score sheet and a 3-1 win.
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HOG500 added 20:10 - Jan 5 ArmieM I accidentally ‘up-ticked’ your post. Try reading the flipping article. Blueboy1981; ditto… read first.
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Westy added 20:25 - Jan 5 When I heard on Radio Suffolk it was a groin injury keeping him out today my first thought was that he is going to be out for a while. Depends on the severity but such injuries seem almost as bad as hamstrings. Disappointed we couldn't get it over the line at Fulham but still a good away point.
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Carberry added 00:40 - Jan 6 Were we not warned by Bristol City fans that Andy Rolls record with injuries was second to none?
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Dissboyitfc added 12:31 - Jan 6 Hopefully he will soon be back. Would be nice if people read the article before commenting, if it’s important enough to comment on, it’s important to read it. Just been speaking to Norwich fans, they are hurting over Godfrey joining us! Look forward to the next announcement.
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Kickingblock added 12:43 - Jan 6 Jack Clarke is better off at Ipswich. Especially if he is young enough to not be included in the senior squad, if that applies in the premier league.
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littlestoneblue added 18:50 - Jan 6 Jack needs more game time In Fact, the only player who should be shown the door is Al Mahadi the man's absolute crap and to bring him on for Delap was madness also Broadhead was causing a real problem
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