Kalvin Phillips and Conor Townsend remain sidelined and there’s been some illness in the camp, but Sammie Szmodics is back training ahead of Sunday’s final game of the season at home to West Ham, while manager Kieran McKenna expects most of the Blues’ longer-term injured to be able to return at the start of pre-season training.

Phillips, on loan from Manchester City, looks to have played his last game for the club, having suffered an achilles problem in the latter weeks of the season.

“It is still mixed across the board. Kalvin is a no, he is seeing a specialist for the issue with his achilles and hopefully he will get that sorted in the off-season,” McKenna said.

“Sammie Szmodics [who underwent ankle surgery] is back training with the group, but we have to decide on availability.

“The long termers are still out and there is a little bit of sickness in the camp so we have had a few off and struggling with that. Hopefully we will be in a decent position by Sunday.

“It doesn’t look like Conor [hamstring] is going to make it for the weekend although he is not too far away.”

Regarding the longer term absentees, Aro Muric (shoulder surgery), Wes Burns (ACL), Jaden Philogene (MCL), Chieo Ogbene (achilles rupture) and Harry Clarke, who suffered an injury while away on loan at Sheffield United, McKenna says they are all making progress.

“Some of them will hopefully be ready for the pre-season,” he said. “Jaden yes, Aro hopefully, Chieo will hopefully be involved in pre-season training. Wes will be a bit of time after that.

“Most will be back in and around pre-season with Wes the one who is going to be a little bit further away from that.

“Harry Clarke had an operation on his plantaris and hopefully should be back and ready for pre-season.

“[Other than them], there are usually a few who play on through injuries and for the team and we have a few in that situation.

“ I think here, like with most football clubs, there is a bit of tidying up to do at the end of the season. There will be a case of that, but hopefully we will have the large majority ready for the pre-season.”

McKenna confirmed that the pre-season training camp will again be in Austria: “Everything sorted, but nothing announced yet.

“Portman Road will be out of action for a few big shows there, so there will be plenty of away games, but sometimes travelling away during pre-season isn’t too bad as you get to spend a bit of time together. Plans for that are all in place.”

Photo: Reuters

Len_Brennan added 15:05 - May 23 Ogbene, Szmodics & Philogene to all be back, match fit, in time to start our opening game of the new season, probably. That would be a very strong 3 to have behind Hirst in the Championship, to be replaced as a block by Chaplin, Broadhead & Clarke around the 65 minute mark.
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herfie added 15:39 - May 23 Perhaps, as part of post-season review, the seemingly high number of significant injuries suffered by our players should be addressed. Accept that they could simply be bad luck, given the physicality and intensity of PL football. However, would seem sensible to review all factors in play, and whether there might be actions that could be taken to minimise risks. Thinking about training regimes etc.

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cressi added 16:01 - May 23 Phillips was born injured or sick Goodbye.
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TimmyH added 17:09 - May 23 So far I haven't seen anything that proves Philogene will be great for us next season, posters are expecting him to be based on the gulf in quality between the 2 leagues! I'm hoping Townsend alongside Burgess (if he stays) O'Shea and Tuanzebe will be far more formidable at the back but this in turn depends on the re-set in midfield as this has also been an attributing factor why we can't keep clean sheets this season.

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Bert added 18:36 - May 23 We have not seen enough of Philogene to know whether he will be an asset or not.
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Essexnblue added 19:25 - May 23 Fact, Philogene is always picked above Omari for England U21. If he gets fit and has a good preseason, he will rock the championship.
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