Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says any conspiracy theories surrounding David McGoldrick are ‘nonsense’.

The Blues striker is facing another three months on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring innocuously back-heeling the ball in training.

It’s the latest in a long line of setbacks for the 28-year-old, who has seen his last two seasons cut short by knee injuries and this one disrupted by a thigh problem.

The time when he was Town’s talisman in 2013/14, and had Premier League club Leicester City tabling a £7m-plus offer, certainly seems a long time ago.

Some Town supporters have suggested on social media that there must be more to the situation than meets the eye, but McCarthy said: “The conspiracy theories are nonsense because he’s really torn his hamstring badly and is going to be out for a number of weeks.

“I can assure you he hasn’t torn it on purpose or anything like that so he hasn’t got to play.

“He was devastated. It’s a long time since I’ve seen a player so upset. When he did the injury he was sat here in the dugout and he was in bits.

“We had to help him off the pitch and he was just devastated, absolutely devastated, because he’s had so many injuries – and long-terms ones that have kept him out.

“He loves playing football, he loves being on the training pitch. It was really sad to see him like that.”

It’s a similar tale of frustration for teenager Teddy Bishop, who has not featured for the first team all season due to shin and hamstring problems.

Meanwhile, on a more positive note, midfielder Cole Skuse is available to play in Saturday’s home game against QPR after having the broken nose he sustained against Fulham fixed.

“I think the guy doing it led him on a little bit and then suddenly grabbed his nose and straightened it, but I don’t think it happened the first time,” explained McCarthy.

“I think Skusey had to apologise for his industrial language after the first one, and even more for the second when he did it again. No anaesthetic, no putting him to sleep. It was a cruel to be kind job.

“Anyway, he’s gorgeous now, he looks fantastic, his nose is lovely and straight and he’s looking as handsome as ever!”