Mick McCarthy remains hopeful of having David McGoldrick available for the trip to Wolves on April 2, but is less confident about Teddy Bishop being able to play again this season.

East Anglian Daily Times: Teddy BishopTeddy Bishop

McGoldrick hasn’t featured since the win at MK Dons on December 12 due to groin trouble, while Bishop hasn’t played a minute of competitive football this season due to shin splints and a hamstring problem.

McCarthy hopes to be able to get McGoldrick back in time to be able to play for the under 21s against Nottingham Forest on March 21, before then making a first-team return at Wolves on April 2.

“I think Didzy will be champing at the bit to be involved on April 2,” McCarthy said.

“He will train on Sunday, he’ll have a week’s training and then we’ve got Nottingham Forest on the Monday (in an under 21s game) and if we could get another game into him before the following week when we’ll be playing Wolves, I think he’d be ready to go, at least to be a part of the squad.

“He’s incredibly talented, we’ve missed him every season when he’s been out and he’s potentially got a European Championship place (with Ireland, to play for).

“He’s got a two-pronged motivation, but then he’s got a summer where he could be away for a month playing football and make up for some of the time he’s lost this season and last season because as footballers we do want to play football, that’s what we do like doing.”

However, when asked if Bishop will play again this season, McCarthy said: “I don’t know. I hope so but he’s not as advanced as Didzy. We thought he was, we thought he might be training Sunday but he’s not quite.”

“Bish is alright, he’s tried desperately to keep his spirits up and have a smile around the place, but he desperately wants to play.”