Ipswich Town defender Adam Webster set to be sidelined for at least a month

Ipswich Town defender Adam Webster has been ruled out for at least a month with the ankle ligament damage he sustained in Tuesday night’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Luton Town.

The 22-year-old missed virtually the entire second half of his debut season at Portman Road after damaging ankle ligaments in training. He returned to action in the final game of the 2016/17 season, but then missed the start of pre-season due to a set-back.

Webster came off the bench for the opening weekend Championship win against Birmingham, then started at Kenilworth Road in midweek only to injure his ankle again and be forced off at half-time.

“Adam went to see the specialist yesterday, he’s in a boot today,” said manager Mick McCarthy. “He’ll be going to see another one to have a bit of treatment. He’s not good for Saturday, he’ll be after the international break, I think.”

Better news ahead of Saturday’s league game at Barnsley is that Cole Skuse (knee), Jordan Spence (knee), Tommy Smith (back) and Joe Garner (shoulder) are all expected to be fine after knocks, although Grant Ward (calf) is a doubt.

“Jordan Spence trained today, Tommy Smith trained today, as I thought they would,” said the Blues boss. “Joe Garner was always going to train, Joe just went and had some preventative medicine on his shoulder, a shoulder injection, that should help strengthen it, that’s fine.

“Wardy hasn’t trained, he got a really nasty knock. It was big (Cheikh) N’Doye who kicked him – accidentally, I might add, there was nothing in it – but he’s a big boy and I think if he kicks you you’ll stay kicked for a while.

“Skusey’s all right, Skusey came through it, he jarred his knee but he’s all right, he’s pretty durable, thank goodness.”

Asked if he might consider bringing some defensive cover in now that Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith are his only out-and-out fit senior centre-backs, McCarthy replied: “I’ve got pretty versatile players. Jonas Knudsen can play left-sided centre-back, while Jordan Spence can play right-sided centre-back (in a three). Dominic Iorfa could play there too. I could play Wardy at right wing-back without too many problems.

“I don’t want to be shifting people about but there’ll be nobody coming in here for Saturday’s game.”

Luke Hyam (ankle) is back in training after a long-term absence, while Teddy Bishop (groin), Tom Adeyemi (recovering from illness) and Emyr Huws (Achilles) are unlikely to be back before the second round Carabao Cup tie in the week commencing Monday, August 21.

“I would like to think that Tom and Emyr could be back for the next round of the cup, but they might be after the international break,” said McCarthy.

“Hyamsy trained really well, so maybe he might get a game in that. Teddy Bishop, no he won’t be involved.”

If Ward fails to recover in time for the trip to Oakwell, would McCarthy be happy with 17-year-old Tristan Nydam retaining his place in midfield having made an impressive debut on Tuesday night?

“No problem at all, he was excellent at Luton – I was delighted with him,” said the Blues boss. “But we’ve got Bersant Celina that could play there in the system that we’re playing (three in midfield). Waggy (Martyn Waghorn) came on and did it very well too actually.

“We’ve got options there. Strangely this year we’ve got forward options and midfield and defence are getting decimated.”