Ipswich Town will be without goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski when they take on Leeds United at Portman Road.
The Polish goalkeeper has suffered a calf injury and will not be involved, with deputy Dean Gerken fit enough to take his place between the sticks following his recent hip injury.
It will be the first time Bialkowski, who has been linked with a January move away from the club, has missed a league game this season. Manager Mick McCarthy confirmed last week that the Polish goalkeeper had been on a shortlist drawn up by Crystal Palace, but the Eagles are thought to be close to completing a move for Getafe’s Vicente Guaita.
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McCarthy will also be without defenders Adam Webster and Tommy Smith for the clash with Leeds, as they continue to struggle with an Achilles problem and illness respectively.
Grant Ward will also be absent after suffering a small tear in his groin during the game with Fulham.
“Bart has picked up a calf strain and will miss tomorrow. Gerks will be in goal tomorrow,” the Town boss said of his goalkeeper.
“Webbo (Webster) is still injured, Grant’s (Ward) still injured and Tommy (Smith) has only reported back in really today following his illness. Not available, unfortunately.
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“Webbo was a worry from day one when he picked up that Achilles injury and he’s had some injections which have made him feel a lot better, and some more today. We were looking at the Bolton game and I’m hopeful that’s still the same. Hopeful more than confident I think.
“Grant is a quick healer, the physio tells me, but it was a nasty little injury so we’ll see about that. Again, I’m hopeful.”
Smith was last weekend linked with a move to MLS side Colorado Rapids, but the Blues boss has insisted he’s had no contact with either his player or the American club this week.
“I haven’t, he’s been in today and that’s it, really. I’ve been doing the first team stuff and Tommy’s been and gone and will be back in tomorrow.
“I’ve not had any, no,” McCarthy continued when asked whether he knew of any firm interest.
Flynn Downes is still out having been sent for blood tests after feeling extremely tired following a hectic schedule, but Tristan Nydam could be back in first team contentions soon.
“Flynn has picked a little knock up and I think that’s to do with tiredness as much as anything. He works exceptionally hard and was the fittest lad when we came back and did the bleep test so we would like to get him back quickly.
“Tristan, there is good news there, he was back on the grass for the first team and we’re probably looking at a bit of a game on Monday for him for the Under 23s.”
Luke Hyam is likely to be involved again after impressing during his 60 minutes against Sheffield United last weekend.
“He’s been great, we’re really, really pleased for him,” he said.
“He’s one of the homegrown players and has been really good for us whenever he’s played. I thought he looked really well last week considering he’d been out for 19 months. He actually gave me a look when I took him off after 60 minutes.”
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