IPSWICH Town will need to struggle through the remaining six games without any reinforcements.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

IPSWICH Town will need to struggle through the remaining six games without any reinforcements.

The Blues have been linked with 26-year-old Barnet striker John O'Flynn who has hit 17 goals in 32 games since signing from Cork City but while Town scouts have been to watch him nothing further has developed.

The deadline for the 'emergency' loan window closed at 5pm last night with Town manager Jim Magilton not landing any more temporary signings, despite his squad's injury list.

Luciano Civelli will have an operation on his damaged knee ligaments on Monday in London and could be out until Christmas, while Jon Walters is still a few weeks from recovering from ruptured ankle ligaments.

Civelli said: “It's very hard for me at the moment.

“I've only played eight games and now I'll be out for a long time.

“It's the first injury I've had and I know it's a bad one. I felt the pain straight away.

“I have to wait now and see what happens when they do the operation and then I'll know how long I'll be out.”

David Wright has not trained this week due to a strained hamstring and Tommy Miller is trying to shake off a dead leg, also sustained against Watford.

Moritz Volz is out with a hernia and may not play again for Town with his loan spell from Fulham ending in May.

Apart from dos Santos, Gareth McAuley, Alex Bruce, Owen Garvan and Veliche Shumulikoski who are on international duty, the Town players have been give a few days off and will report back on Monday to start preparations for the trip to promotion chasing Sheffield United.

No other Town players went out on loan either and it is unlikely that any of those that are will play for the Blues again.

Billy Clarke has admitted he already knows his days are numbered.

Clarke, now on loan at Brentford, said: “My contract's up at Ipswich this summer, but I'm not getting offered anything there.

“Hopefully I can get myself sorted somewhere between now and the end of the season.

“Coming to Brentford permanently would be something I have to think about very seriously.

“I've been on-loan at Darlington and Northampton this season and scored quite a few goals. I have confidence in my own ability, and think I can score some goals to help get Brentford promoted.”

Liam Trotter has extended his loan spell at Scunthorpe United, while Chris Casement is at Wycombe Wanders, Kurt Robinson at Rushden & Diamonds and Jai Reason looks settled at Cambridge United.

Shane Supple is at Oldham, initially for a month, but that could be extended and as he is also out of contract in the summer he may not figure again for Town.

All are out of contract in the summer and none are expected to be here next year.

Meanwhile, Giovani dos Santos could play for Mexico against Honduras next Wednesday, thus endangering his chances of starring for Ipswich at Sheffield United the following Saturday.

The international limped off midway through the Blues' goalless home draw with Watford last weekend with a groin problem but has flown to South America.

Mexican medical staff feels he is making good progress and while he will not appear for his country against Costa Rica this weekend they are pencilling him in for the game in Honduras.

That would mean the on-loan Spurs forward not getting back to the UK until Friday when the Blues physio Matt Byard will need to assess whether he is fit enough for the game at Bramall Lane.

Byard said: “We will know more about his fitness after the weekend. There is a chance that he would be ready for the Wednesday game. If he is not fit then hopefully he will be able to come back to England and will possibly have a chance to be available for the Sheffield United match.

“If he stays in Mexico then he will not be getting back until Friday and it will then be a case of seeing how quickly he has recovered from the trip and whether there has been any reaction to the injury.”

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk