Blues striker Ali Al-Hamadi has suffered a calf injury, which will keep him out of action for a number of weeks, manager Kieran McKenna has revealed.

The 23-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Stoke, was a surprise absentee from today’s squad with young Irish forward Leon Ayinde taking a place among the subs for a league game for the first time.

“Ali picked up an injury in training on Thursday, so wasn’t available, which obviously leaves us really short in that area,” McKenna explained.

“Not very short term, hopefully not long term either, but he picked up an injury in the first session back after doing the 90 minutes against Bromley in the cup and it’s probably going to be a few weeks.”

The Iraqi international’s injury could impact his prospects for moving out on loan or on a permanent basis before the transfer window closes.

Luton Town were keen earlier in the summer, although their interest is believed to have cooled having Jerry Yates from Swansea. Ligue 1 Toulouse have also eyed the former Wycombe and Wimbledon man, while Charlton and Cardiff have been linked.

Meanwhile, McKenna says Town fans should have to wait too much longer to see new loan signing Chuba Akpom, who recently signed for the season from Ajax, in action.

“Hopefully soon,” he said. “He trained separately for the early part of the week but had some muscle tightness and soreness after we tried to get him up to speed, so we’ve had to slow it down a little bit, but hopefully not too much longer.

“But it will be really important to have him with the group as soon as possible. We’re shorter in the midfield and forward positions than we want to be, not just in terms of numbers but also just in the readiness of those players getting up to full speed and full fitness.

“Hopefully he’ll get some more training under his belt this week and be available for minutes soon.”

Photo: Matchday Images

tetchris added 15:48 - Aug 17 You couldn’t make it up!
9

bluearmy81 added 15:54 - Aug 17 Another player injured in training. What a surprise
7

itfc2024 added 15:58 - Aug 17 no lose anyway
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hammo56 added 15:58 - Aug 17 Think we get more injuries in training than the SAS.
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dyersdream added 15:59 - Aug 17 We’re be stuck with him now
3

ITFCSG added 16:00 - Aug 17 Good. No loss even if he doesn't appear in a Town shirt again
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hyperbrit added 16:07 - Aug 17 You hire a guy with an appalling record in calf injuries from Arsenal what do you expect? Is this some kind of strategy or what?
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hyperbrit added 16:08 - Aug 17 You hire a guy with an appalling record in calf injuries from Arsenal what do you expect? Is this some kind of strategy or what?
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hyperbrit added 16:09 - Aug 17 sorry
0

jas0999 added 16:12 - Aug 17 We need tow strikers. Terrible for title favourites not to have a striker on the bench so early in the season. A complete failure by the club.
7

bluesissy added 16:49 - Aug 17 Every cloud.......
0

duke_maiden added 16:50 - Aug 17 Shame. Could have done with him coming off the bench today. Sounds like he will be out a few weeks at least
1

itfc2024 added 16:53 - Aug 17 we wouldn't have done anything from the bench he's useless
-4

blues1 added 17:05 - Aug 17 Hyperbrit? What are you on about? 1. We signed him from Wimbledon. 2. .he doesnt have a history of calf issues. . 3 if ur actually talking about akpom. Nor does he. And theres no mention of a calf injury for him in this story. Nor did we sign him from Arsenal.
7

blues1 added 17:08 - Aug 17 Bluearmy81. Yet another injury in training? Really? Almost all the injuries we've had in the past couple of years have been in games. And Harry Clarke the only other injury we have right now, from training.
1

Lightningboy added 17:15 - Aug 17 These blokes wouldn't get very far on the Krypton factor.
0

hyperbrit added 17:30 - Aug 17 blues1 I was quoting something someone said on this site and forgot his name . It was not AH I was talking about but Town's physios who have an appalling record that has be going on for years,.
0

ArmaghBlue added 18:53 - Aug 17 Injured? I presume he is on the verge of leaving then?
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oioihardy added 18:56 - Aug 17 We need to pull our fingers out and speed up this st search
2

Juggsy added 20:27 - Aug 17 Criminal lack of strike options yet again
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cressi added 22:04 - Aug 17 Sensible thing to do is come to a agreement with Ali and pay him up get off the books not his fault but never ever going to be good enough makes more space in squad and him a chance to find a club when fit.
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runningout added 00:47 - Aug 18 less said soonest mended
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dirtydingusmagee added 07:39 - Aug 18 Calf muscle,or sore throat ?
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Bazza8564 added 08:11 - Aug 18 Can't even see Ali being registered in the 25 to be honest. Sadly he clearly doesnt offer us anything, and this injury may delay an exit, I would rather see Chuba or Sammy playing in the 9. Our standards have been be higher. Hirsty looked knackered by half time yesterday, we need some quality alternatives in now, shame Ivan failed his medical
1

JewellintheTown added 09:01 - Aug 18 Good to know we have a load of fitness and medical expert fans at the club, that KM & MA can call upon for advice when they need to. I'm sure they'll work well with the transfer expert fans we have and the Premiership quality management experts too, amongst the long list of other expert fans we have. The psychologists at the club have them all on speed dial.
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