Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy is hoping that Teddy Bishop can fill the shoes of injured Emyr Huws during the second half of the season.

Welsh international midfielder Huws has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after undergoing surgery on a knee injury he sustained in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

It’s a major blow given Town made the 24-year-old their first £1m signing in five years this summer and handed him a four-year deal following an impressive loan spell from Cardiff.

With the January transfer window soon to open, McCarthy was asked if he’d be looking for a replacement.

“Yes, Teddy Bishop,” he replied. “I’d like Teddy Bishop to be as fit as he can be and why would I be looking anywhere else if I can get him? Flynn Downes has been great, Tristan (Nydam) is doing great, Tom Adeyemi too. That’s what we want back, we want our own players back.”

Bishop burst on the scene as a teenager in 2014/15, but has endured two injury-hit years since and only recently returned to first-team action with two substitute appearances.

“I don’t think he is ready for 90 minutes as yet, but he’s ready to play and he’s training well,” said the Blues boss.

Town midfielder Cole Skuse added: “Bish has been out for a long time, but he has been unbelievable in training lately.

“He has come back in great shape, looked really fit and sharp, so his return is an absolute bonus for everyone.

“Tom (Adeyemi) did really well when he played, so it will be real competition when they are all back.”

On the Huws injury, McCarthy explained: “It came as a shock. I’m not quite sure when he did it. I just thought he’d be in here with a bruised hip on Monday, but the next news I get is that he’s got a tear in his cartilage and it could be a season-ending injury.

“He’d had a long-term (Achilles) injury, he got back playing and he looked like he was getting back to his best, but then has had it taken away again.

“I’m disappointed, the rest of the players and staff are and I’m sure the fans are too because he’s a good player, but I can only imagine how he feels. He will be devastated.”