TEAM NEWS: Mick McCarthy hints at Tommy Smith recall against Peterborough

Ipswich v Peterborough: Mick McCarthy has no new injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s must-win match at home to fellow strugglers Peterborough.

Paul Taylor is a long-term absentee while new loan signing Tyrone Barnett is ineligible to play against his parent club.

But with midfielder Andy Drury declaring himself fit after a slight strain, McCarthy will be mulling over personnel changes rather than enforced ones.

Top of that list could be in a defence that shipped six goals at Leicester City last time around.

Tommy Smith, who was dropped for the King Power Stadium clash after travelling to China with New Zealand a day after helping Town beat Burnley 2-1, is back in contention with one of Luke Chambers and Danny Higginbotham in danger of being dropped.

Of Smith, McCarthy today said: “I like him – he has trained really well and is in contention. He was very good (against Burnley).

“But he travelled to China, played, and then travelled back. I actually wondered if he had stayed at home and the rest of them had travelled to China!”

Scott Loach has trained all week after he missed the Leicester trip and McCarthy said he will continue to assess the goalkeeping situation after Stephen Henderson conceded 12 goals in three games.

The smart money is still on the West Ham loanee keeping his place against Posh.

McCarthy kept coy over any attempts to add new players, or allow existing ones to leave, during yesterday’s last day of the emergency loan window.

But when asked about striker Jason Scotland, he admitted: “A few asked about him, but he is in the squad tomorrow.”