Town boss Kieran McKenna says new signing Jaden Philogene will be in the squad for Sunday’s home game with Manchester City, despite having had a back problem, while Axel Tuanzebe and Sammie Szmodics are both close returns following their injuries.

Philogene, 22, whose lengthy move from Aston Villa was finally completed on Wednesday evening, made only four starts and 11 sub appearances for the Villans following his summer switch from Hull City, the most recent 31 minutes from the bench against Southampton at the start of December, and has also had a minor fitness issue.

Asked whether the England U21 international will be ready to be involved against Manchester City on Sunday, McKenna said that would be determined over the weekend.

“We’ll decide that over the next 24/48 hours,” the Blues boss said following the 2-0 defeat to Brighton. “He’s missed a little bit of training because he had a knock on his back as well over the last week, but he’s OK now.

“He trained today [Thursday] just by himself this afternoon, he’ll train with the group for the first time [on Friday]. He’s a naturally very fit lad as well, so that will help.

“He’ll be in the squad on Sunday. How many minutes we use him for, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Omari Hutchinson was a surprise starter against the Seagulls following his groin problem and McKenna says how the former Chelsea man came through Thursday’s match will also be evaluated.

“Again, we’ll have to judge it,” he said. “He does tend to recover really well, Omari, so he’d recovered well from the little strain that he had and felt really confident and he felt fine in the game. Of course, he’ll have to be assessed over the next 24 hours to see how he is for Sunday.”

Defender Axel Tuanzebe is nearing a return following his hamstring injury but McKenna says the DR Congo international is more likely to be available for the trip to Liverpool next week rather than this weekend.

“We’ll have to, again, assess it in the next 24 hours,” he continued. “It’s probably going to be too soon, but it’s going to be a fairly close call, so that’s good news. He’s not to far away, but we think this Sunday will possibly come too soon.”

There has also been good news on Sammie Szmodics, who hurt his ankle at Fulham a fortnight ago, with the forward also nearing a return.

“He had a scan on his ankle and he’s not too bad,” McKenna said. “He’s not trained with the group or anything like that yet, but he’s not too far from it. We’ll see how he is in the next few days.”

Town will be without Kalvin Phillips on Sunday with the England international ineligible against his parent club, while Conor Chaplin (knee) and Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles) remain sidelined.

Photo: ITFC/Matchday Images

bobble added 06:16 - Jan 18 3_0 to town
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Blue_Heath added 07:08 - Jan 18 We love to sign an injured player don't we!
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ArnieM added 08:12 - Jan 18 "Axel...hamstring injury"..... thought he was out fue to a thumb injury?? So when's he picked up a hamstring injury?
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RobITFC added 08:40 - Jan 18 @ArnieM Axel was back from his thumb injury end Nov, but then got injured again.
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Karlosfandangal added 08:53 - Jan 18 Not sure why Town are not back in for Borja as the Chelsea Striker is still out injured
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Karlosfandangal added 08:56 - Jan 18 Sorry Everton Striker
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Town1Inter0 added 09:21 - Jan 18 This league has proven just how important it is to have a full squad and a strong bench. Hopefully with a near injury-free squad and a few additions we can have our usual McKenna strong back half of the season.
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ArnieM added 09:26 - Jan 18 RobITFC: many thanks for this, although it beggers belief, that yet another Town player gets a hamstring injury.
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billlm added 09:39 - Jan 18 Arnie, we were away somewhere can't remember who, he made a lung busting run back to cover the ball won it as he slid off the pitch the winger rolled over him no malice or intension and he put his hand up straight away,
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jasondozzell added 10:57 - Jan 18 Away to Forest I think.
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Bazza8564 added 11:21 - Jan 18 Yes it was at Forest, people were diving all over the place that day, at least our fella was actually genuinely injured, the Forest lads were after Oscars, worse than Brighton. Szmodics is the big miss at the moment, Broady frankly hasnt got enough in the tank and is way better as an impact player off the bench for me Hey ho, it's only City and Liverpool next two
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Stato added 14:15 - Jan 18 Yep Szmodics is the big miss at the moment. Him and Delap stand above the rest of the squad at the moment for PL goal involvement. Hutchinson is the big disappointment. At this level I think he can compete out on the right but down the centre he has been totally ineffective
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Leejames99 added 15:23 - Jan 18 Hutchinson is great player but players on right, we keep having g to put him I middle to accommodate Burns, I would not be surprised see Burns in goal anything to be in team for the obvious teachers pet, he spent half Brighton game talking to Mckenna, chewing gum and when he got ball ran a bit and booted it away, do not know how he gets on pitch at this level, he has been dire this season imo. If Morsy plays tomorrow I fear we are doomed, Man City midfield will entice him to clip them with skill, they will look for penalties and fouls. 5 penalties this year already Town have given away! Need to pray teams around us continue losing. Only 17 games left, 15 by next week! Need a new midfielder and striker in this window desperate, Matic would be great to sit in with Cajuste and Phillips. COYB

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Mariner1974 added 15:24 - Jan 18 Arnie M - You're on here all the time! You must have been having a snooze the day Axel got injury chasing Hudson-Odoi, and have gone back to the Dame Washalot days! Hamstring injuries are common. It's pretty standard stuff. Especially if you're having to run harder and work harder like the players have to in the Prem.
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Mariner1974 added 15:39 - Jan 18 LeeJames99 - you're a little bit too in love with new players. I imagine you spend most of the match at Portman Road on your phone checking what's going on at the other grounds for your favourite players like Cole Palmer, TAA, Haaland and co to see what they're up to. Yes we need new players, and yes we needed to make the step up in class as best we could when we joined the Prem, but you're forgetting all about the dressing room and what great atmosphere was garnered there from back to back promotions. That goodwill is priceless and gives us a much better chance this season. It's Kieron's job to get the blend right, which is why you see a great leader like Morsy still in there driving the team, why Chappers has fought his way back into playing and contributing, and why players like Hirst, Woolfie, Davis are there. They are there on merit. Morsy wouldn't be playing if he wasn't so integral to this team. You can't really say Phillips' performances merit him starting over Sam. Morsy and Cajuste have been our strongest CM pairing. We have had loads of new additions, and it's a fine balance to get it right. Agreed Burns shouldn't be out there (he doesn't even believe it himself!) Omari is a much bigger threat on the right than Burns, but until the squad are all fit and new additions settled in, Mckenna sees a role for him. Morsy is out there on merit and should be on the starting line-up each week. I'm excited to see Philogene and Omari slotted behind Delap. Hopefully can match what Forest do...defend well and break with devasting consequences. The best team is a blend, not just shiny new faces though.

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Dissboyitfc added 15:57 - Jan 18 Bazza i thought Broady was one of our better players against Brighton. Looking forward to seeing Philogene play tomorrow!
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Leejames99 added 16:07 - Jan 18 @mariner nice debate thanks for comment, it's not all about new players, Davis, Broadhead,Burgess, H Clarke in time and J Taylor are all good enough. The whole dressing room thing hasn't done us to well this season, he scored 1 to get us a point v Saints but has given away more points than anyone, too clumsy and too rash in my opinion, don't get me wrong he has been an amazing captain and will be up there with Mills, Mowbray, Holland etc but like everything he is not a Prem player, yes he can shout alot I'm all for having hin in dressing room, just not on the pitch. Phillips and Cajust imo are much better, more experienced and we could do with a good number 10 to link between them and the front. I think Broadhead be good at that. Burns should leave for sake his career and Woolfeden. I think Man City will target Morsy tomorrow he is too volatile for Prem and VAR catches him out. We need as much Prem experience at our disposal tomorrow as we can. Thanks comment, end of the day all diff opinions, we all just want the team to progress. I heard Burns has offered to be Bluey if it means hr can get on pitch - joking

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:01 - Jan 18 Bournemouth have just beaten Newcastle, with a fantastic display by their youngters as they have loads of players injured. Very impressive.
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Daniel72 added 18:43 - Jan 18 Sorry leejames meant to upscore your last comment but had a bad touch ... long day... enjoyed the humour at the end...
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John_Grose added 21:28 - Jan 18 Who has dropped out of the squad to accommodate Godfrey and Philogene?
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Leejames99 added 22:04 - Jan 18 @johngrose hopefully Burns and Hammadi to start with
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