Stephen Hunt is available again for Ipswich Town, but Luke Hyam remains sidelined and both Tyrone Mings and Noel Hunt are doubts for Ipswich Town ahead of tomorrow’s fourth versus second Championship clash with Middlesbrough at portman Road.

Stephen Hunt missed last weekend’s goalless draw at Bolton with a virus, while Hyam has missed the last three matches with an Achilles problem.

“Stephen Hunt is fine – he’s trained today,” revealed manager Mick McCarthy. “Sadly, Noel Hunt got a kick yesterday and is a bit of a doubt. We’ll see about him.

“Luke Hyam is still not fit and Tyrone (Mings) has got an infected toe, so we’ll have to wait and see about him.”

On the prospect of Hyam being involved over the festive period – Town travelling to Brentford on Boxing day before home games against Charlton and Derby sandwich an FA Cup tie at Southampton – the Blues boss said: “It’s difficult. The longer it goes on the harder it is to get back. Hopefully he’ll be okay. It’s settled down, his Achilles, but they are difficult to treat. When you drive a car, walk, do anything, it just keeps aggravating it. Hopefully he’ll be back asap.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy explained his decision to allow Elliott Hewitt to remain on loan at struggling League One club Colchester United. He said: “I’ve extended it, but I haven’t really because he’s got a 24-hour notice to come back. I’m happy for him to be playing games because if he came back here he’d just be sat in the stands and there’d be no point in that. If I do need him at any stage he’ll be fit and raring to go.”

And the Blues boss confirmed that Freddie Veseli is free to sign for League One side Port Vale when his loan expires.

“His future’s not here, it’s elsewhere and he knows that,” said McCarthy. “If he moves on to Port Vale and they can benefit from him then great.”

– See tomorrow’s EADT for full match preview.