Blues boss Kieran McKenna says the injuries suffered by Conor Townsend and Jaden Philogene don’t look great, while Leif Davis missed out due to a knock and Harry Clarke could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but keeper Aro Muric is making good progress.

Townsend hurt his knee in the first half of this afternoon’s game, while Philogene picked up his issue in the second. The former West Brom man walked to the coach with a brace on his left left using crutches, while the forward was visibly limping, although not wearing a boot or on crutches.

“It doesn’t look great,” McKenna admitted. “That’s obviously going to be a downside of today. Conor’s is his knee, so we’ll get it scanned.

“Jaden’s is a heavy knock on his ankle, so again we’re going to have to see how he is.

“That leaves us in a frustrating time and a trickier situation going into next week but you’re going to have challenges over the course of the year.

“We’ll see how the boys are and those who have stayed at home as well, and we’ll deal with the challenge head-on.”

On Davis, he added: “Leif’s got an injury, so unfortunate timing and we’re going to have to see how he responds.”

Regarding Clarke, who has missed the last two friendlies, he continued: “Harry picked up an injury, so he’s going to be out for quite a while, we’re not exactly sure how long yet. It will be assessed over the next few weeks and we’ll decide the best course of action from there.

“It’s in his knee tendon, so it’s a decision around what’s the best course of action. Honestly, that won’t be decided until we’ve seen how the next few weeks pan out and it settles down.”

It’s another blow for the right-back, who underwent a double plantaris removal at the end of 2023/24 and then had another plantaris surgery at the end of last season.

“Very tough, he came back in great condition in pre-season, I have to say, physically and mentally, importantly, really focused, really giving it everything,” McKenna reflected.

“So, it’s really frustrating for him and we’re disappointed for him. But, look, there’s no definite on the timescale yet, if it pans out well in the next couple of weeks, then he could be back in not on a really, really long timescale. In another course of action, it could be a little bit longer.

“Disappointed for him, disappointed to lose him. We’ve got some challenges in the full-back positions at the moment that we weren’t predicting but you’re going to come across over the course of the year, so we’re going to have to deal with some early ones.”

Meanwhile, McKenna says keeper Muric is making progress following his shoulder surgery in March, the Kosovo international having come on as a half-time sub at Colchester on Tuesday.

“He’s training well and he’s done well in the minutes in the minutes that he’s had. He did well when he came on against Charlton,” he said.

“Alex [Palmer] and Christian [Walton] have done the whole pre-season and are a little bit ahead of him fitness-wise and match fitness-wise, but he’s training well and getting stronger day by day, so he’s ready and fit should we need him and should the opportunities arise.”

Photo: Matchday Images

RobsonWark added 22:23 - Aug 2 runningout we have the 2 best keepers in the Championship in Palmer and Walton. Muric is a pile of sh1te. How many more errors, mistakes and giving away goals do you want to see before you realise?
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mutters added 22:30 - Aug 2 I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. However to wish one our players to be injured for the whole season just shows what sort of person you are.
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kwakaboy added 22:31 - Aug 2 To so warm you are not fit to carry those names as a so called supporter you are an absolute disgrace with comments like that. Perhaps you should engage your other brain cell and think about what you have said.
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Bert added 23:01 - Aug 2 I introduced someone to this Forum last week. His verdict is that it resembles “ a plague pit of moaners, half wits and people who hide behind their anonymity to further their agenda “. I will leave it to others to form their opinion but there is little doubt that many are put off by the nastiness and “I know better than you” attitude of some posters.
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Madvic22 added 23:01 - Aug 2 RobsonWark, wishing someone out for the season, what a nice chap you are!!! Unbelievable
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Madvic22 added 23:04 - Aug 2 RobsonWark, what a nice person you are, wishing someone out for the season !!! Unbelievable
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pablo123 added 23:10 - Aug 2 OMG this window is now a bad joke !!!! For god sake get the players in we need NOW !! We start next Friday as favourites to win the league and in all honesty this squad has NO CHANCE as it stands
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nevergoblue added 23:18 - Aug 2 I agree that BlueArmy and RobsonWalk are perfectly within their rights to moan in online forums, and even at the in-person supporters forums etc. I don't think it is reasonable to boo during games (maybe the only times would be for lack of effort like Rashford at Man U), all it does is destroy confidence and create a toxic atmosphere, so it is detrimental to the team and club.

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nevergoblue added 23:20 - Aug 2 Of course I'm not suggesting BlueArmy and RobsonWalk boo at matches!
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Chrisd added 23:28 - Aug 2 Philogene seems like a player made of glass.
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churchmans added 23:39 - Aug 2 @fat boy tim! Sorry but you and the positive comments you got,let me tell you something! The majority of us fans comment factually and what we see!! So let me be clear !! From what i have seen muric has been absolute pony!!
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churchmans added 23:51 - Aug 2 @BERT! You an and your 'mate' you introduced to this forum and called it a plague! Let me be absolutely clear and brutal!!! You dont like the comments then *****Most of us on here care about the club! And club only! 'Unless you become a club legend/icon) if you are a player on here reading the commentd and being hurt then i say 1.dont rrad comments on here 2.look at your bank balance and realise how privallaged you are 3 bert dont come and talk s** on here!

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armchaircritic59 added 23:52 - Aug 2 I agree with anyone who say's we are all entitled to an opinion, and I've quite often given mine over the close season. It would be nice however if we could all not carry it over into verbal abuse of fellow posters and possibly worse still, players. Let's all just agree to disagree!
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churchmans added 23:57 - Aug 2 Muric last season was absolute vank!!! We all see it! He see it! Pressure and qaulity of the leauge was to much for him! We as a club are not here to pay him to feel.good about himself we pay him to do well for us,he has to live up to that expectation and if he does then brilliant we will cheer his name
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Bert added 01:57 - Aug 3 @Churchmans…… the cap fits you very nicely !
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DavoIPB added 05:09 - Aug 3 Have heard players and ex players say they have never been. Pushed so hard in training. We now have so many ankle and knee problems in the squad. Something is not right..
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tractorboybig added 06:40 - Aug 3 we will miss townsend philogene no loss
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Widj123 added 07:38 - Aug 3 Philogrene out thank god for that watched him in France he is an embarrassment before he injured prehaps Ashton can ask for his money back 22 million of absolute rubbish sad about Townsend though decent player
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BlueRuin69 added 07:45 - Aug 3 Don't wish I jury on any player but have been really disappointed with Philogene just cannot see why he plays and Broadhead doesn't?
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BangaloreBlues added 07:50 - Aug 3 Oh dear oh dear oh dear. I hate friendlies for this very reason! Injuries cost us a lot last season, looks like we're carrying on where we left off.
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:27 - Aug 3 I was willing to give Philo time to settle in when many were on his back ,however I am now seriously doubting the wisdom of his signing Seems like it was a hell of a saga for nothing,OK anyone can pick up an injury but he has been a waste of space in terms of his contribution so far ,nothing at all shown to justify all the hype or valuation .Hope I'm wrong and he proves his worth but I fear he will be a well paid passenger ,a mistake.

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Linkboy13 added 08:37 - Aug 3 Auxerre were a big physical technically good side who pressed very well much like a Premier league team and players like Philogene, Clarke are always going to be valuable to getting injured both are outstanding championship players but will never be Premier league. The problems that Auxerre gave us won't be encountered in the championship the marking is not as tight and the football more exciting and open just like last time in the championship. To beat Auxerre three nil was a outstanding performance orbeit a friendly.

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BlueMoolay added 09:22 - Aug 3 What a bunch of bel ends we have on here. Wishing players out for the season, booing Muric in pre season, giving Philogene jip because he's not large.!! FFS...how is this helping...opinion or not...Phukoff. Get behind the boys....Ipswich till I die....not Ipswich till I get what I want, win every game, all players score 10 out of 10 every game and don't make mistakes. Get a grip....booing doesn't help. COYB.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:43 - Aug 3 Philogene was beginning to show some promise: some direct play and handy crosses but mixed in with some poor execution in front of goal. I hope the injury is not serious as that's a setback he doesn't need right now. With time, he could be a real asset, as he's already proved with Hull. It's good we have Ogbene, who I think looks pretty robust and will be a very useful sub or starter, depending on the injury situation. It's frustrating that we have these injury problems just before the first game, and you do feel that with a couple more additions we would be more or less the complete outfit. But Kieran is a glass half full character (you have to be in his job), and I am confident he'll sort things out. COYB!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:52 - Aug 3 PS: I'd like to keep Broadhead, although he may feel he needs a new challenge. And Ali A A's smart bit of footwork to beat the defender for his goal suggests we should perhaps think carefully before moving him on.
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