Grant Ward is the latest player to be added to Ipswich Town’s injury list after he suffered a tear to his groin at Fulham on Tuesday night.
The former Tottenham man was replaced just before the break at Fulham on Tuesday night, with the grade two tear ruling him out of tomorrow’s FA Cup clash with Sheffield United.
Adam Webster’s Achilles problem means he will not play, with Blues boss Mick McCarthy revealing both Bartosz Bialkowski and Luke Hyam will start in a changed side which he insists will be made of first team players,
New signing Aaron Drinan could make his debut from the bench but Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam are both out, while Cole Skuse is still struggling with an ankle injury despite playing at Fulham on Tuesday.
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“He’s (Ward) the latest in the long list of injuries who is not available because he’s got a little tear in his groin,” McCarthy said.
“I’ve not had the prognosis on it, I didn’t dare ask, but it’s a Grade Two so it’s not the worst.
“He certainly won’t be ready for tomorrow and Leeds (January 13) might come around too soon as well.
“It takes me back to shooting that Albatross, which I never did by the way, just in case anyone is worrying. I’m joking.
“I don’t know what’s happened in terms of the amount of injuries we’ve had. We’ve had Emyr Huws, Bish, Dozzer (Andre Dozzell) out for the season,
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Tom Adeyemi out for half the season pretty much and so many knocks. They are bad injuries as well, not just little ones you can get over. Skusey forced himself to play at Fulham and he got through the game but that’s still swollen.
“It’s a real difficult time, we have to dig in and scrap it out.”
On Webster, McCarthy said: “There is no chance for him tomorrow, he’s got the Achilles problem and he’s having a lubricant injection.
“Best case scenario is Leeds. Worst case – I don’t want to think about it.”
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McCarthy revealed Downes is struggling physically following a busy season – and has been sent for blood tests due to extreme tiredness – and that Nydam is struggling with pubic symphysis, which affects the muscles and ligaments around his stomach and groin.
“Flynn was absolutely goosed last week, shattered,” McCarthy said.
“He didn’t train well on Friday morning and I had a joke with him but I don’t think he was in the mood for joking.
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“So I had him in my office and asked him and he had no energy at all, he was exhausted like somebody had pulled the plug on him.
“We’re having blood tests. I don’t think it’s anything untoward but he’s come out of the youth team, played for us, been on England duty, had no break and I think he’s run out of gas. He’s not available.
“Tristan is struggling with pubic symphysis which is to do with his stomach, in and around his groin.
“I’ve had that myself and it can niggle on. You need to get it right.”
Hyam will start the game despite having played just eight minutes since returning from a 19-month injury lay-off, with McCarthy hopeful the midfielder will last at least an hour.
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“Whether he’s ready or not, he is starting,” he said.
“He’s a fit, athletic lad who really looks after himself and I think the adrenaline will get him through. We’ll certainly get 60 minutes out of him, hopefully more.
“It’s lovely to have him back. We need him back because we’ve got such a shortage of midfield players.
“Had Luke Hyam been fit over the last 18 months then we wouldn’t have brought so many in anyway. Fingers crossed for him that it works out well and he plays well.”
Emyr Huws, Teddy Bishop and Andre Dozzell are all out for the season while Tom Adeyemi remains sidelined.
Adam McDonnell and departing striker Kieffer Moore are both cup-tied, while Jordan Spence begins a three-game ban following his red card at Fulham.
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