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McKenna: Burns Out, Nunez Could Return
Friday, 20th Mar 2026 15:09

Town will be without Wes Burns but could have Marcelino Nunez back in their squad for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Millwall at Portman Road.

Burns limped off at Sheffield Wednesday last week with a calf injury and was left of the Wales squad for their World Cup play-off in midweek.

Nunez suffered a hamstring injury against Leicester City a fortnight ago and although he was left out of the Chile squad for friendlies in New Zealand against the All Whites and Cape Verde.

“Wes won’t be available this weekend,” manager Kieran McKenna said. “Not a serious injury, so that was a positive.

“Will be fit, all being well, during the international break. Marcelino’s touch and go, so we’ll see how he is.”

McKenna says Jaden Philogene came through his 16 minutes at Hillsborough OK having returned from his MCL injury, but the forward has been among a number of players who have been ill this week.

“He’s been OK, there’s actually been a little bit of sickness in the camp this week and he was one of them,” McKenna said. “He’ll be in the squad again tomorrow.”

Aside from that, the Blues boss says there have been one or two niggles following last week’s 2-0 win in South Yorkshire.

“Not too much change, we had a few other knocks and issues around Saturday,” he continued. “One or two are still getting assessed right up to the time of the game, but we’ll have a strong team.”

Regarding Ashley Young, who has been sidelined for two months with a hip issue, McKenna says the 40-year-old is moving in the right direction.

“Progress, but he’s not with the group yet,” he added. “He’s had an injection, some treatment this week and that hopefully push him on now over the international break.”

McKenna says third-choice keeper David Button remains out with a calf problem: “Not back yet, a little bit slower progress than we would have liked, but he’s still not back with the group yet.”

Left-back Conor Townsend has been out since pre-season having suffered an ACL injury which is expected to keep him out for the entire campaign.

“He’s doing well, Conor’s doing well,” McKenna said. “He’s working a lot outside with the rehabilitation coaches doing ball-work, doing all his movement, so it’s just building that up now.

“At this stage of the process it tends to be day on, day off and you gradually build that up and then we’ll start to introduce some contact and some opposition as it goes along, but he’s doing really well.”

Photo: Matchday Images



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AJW1971 added 15:27 - Mar 20
Glad Burns injury not too serious. I think he will be key for us on the run in. For me he gives the team more balance and a better shape when he plays.
10

Karlosfandangal added 15:47 - Mar 20
Forgot about poor Townsend…. Wonder if he will pull on a Town shirt again
2

bradforblues added 16:23 - Mar 20
I'd start with McAteer on the right, Clarke on the left and Mehmeti in the middle.
Azon up front but look to play in behind them, they're land of the giants back 4 will win everything aerially.
Taylor to start with Matusiwa in the middle.
Same back 4 as last week but Johnson has to mix it up and use his left foot.
3

flykickingbybgunn added 17:18 - Mar 20
Could not better that Brad. Sums it up.
0

Linkboy13 added 17:24 - Mar 20
Keeping Wes fit over a period of time has been a problem for quite a while now and as mentioned on here he's so vital to the balance of the team.
0

Bazza8564 added 17:36 - Mar 20
McAteer for me on the right, goes hard outside which is what we will miss with Wes out, Anis and Jack as people have said above and the back 4 (Furlong, O'shea, Greaves and Johnson) sort of picks itself as they are the only ones available and experienced.
CMF it's a toss up for me between Taylor and Neil to partner Matusiwa, I like Neil playing as the deepest so it will be how KM sees it, pushing him ahead of Azor doesnt seem as effective
1

armchaircritic59 added 18:00 - Mar 20
Agree with those above, it's time for Kasey to start a game or two. He's never going to get the chance to show what he can do if he doesn't, and we're never going to get the chance to see if he can do it. Unlike many, I've always thought there's a player there. Hope I'm proved right, if not, well I can take it!
1

magnus68 added 19:18 - Mar 20
What about Greaves? Used to do a good job on Leifs absence.
0

Guthrum added 19:55 - Mar 20
magnus68 - Needed to cover Kipre's absence at LCB (suspended). Unless we put the young and relatively inexperienced Baggott there. Which would be a gamble against Millwall in such an important game.
0

Guthrum added 19:57 - Mar 20
bradfordblues - agree with much of what you say, but not sure there'll be much space behind Millwall's back line to play the ball into.
0

Len_Brennan added 06:54 - Mar 21
The midfield battle will be key in this one, so I would really like to see Nunez playing as the central #10, but dropping deeper to add a body when we're out of possession. If he's not fit to start, I would consider Taylor or even Cajuste to play that role, ahead of Matusiwa & Neil; they can all push forward & create chances, but offer more presence than Mehmeti for than centre midfield battle.
Mehmeti could start on the left with Clarke on the right, as I can't see Egeli starting & McAteer has been out in the cold. So, depending on fitness & illness, for me it's :
Walton
Furlong, O'Shea, Greaves, Johnson
Matusiwa, Neil
Clarke, Nunez, Mehmeti
Hirst.
0


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