Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy doesn’t believe his training methods have contributed to the club’s huge injury list this season.

The Blues currently have 11 players in the treatment room, while 18 of the first-team squad have been sidelined at one stage or another this campaign.

McCarthy, who has always said that he wants his players to train with the same intensity as games, said: “It’s not through anything we do in training that gets players injured, that’s for sure. Emyr Huws did his knee at Middlesbrough, Tom Adeyemi did his hamstring and Teddy Bishop has been ongoing. Andre Dozzell did his knee on the pitch and none of those could be avoided at all.

“Tristan (Nydam) and Flynn (Downes), maybe I could have not put them in the squad or dipped them in and out I suppose, but we’ve needed them.

“We do look at it but Lidds (Andy Liddell) is fantastic in terms of a fitness coach. Yes, the training sessions are tough, but that’s what’s required in this league.

“When David Moyes took the job (at West Ham) the thought was they weren’t working hard enough in training.

“There’s nothing we do which brought upon that injury list.”

Central midfield trio Dozzell (knee), Huws (knee) and Bishop (hamstring) have all been sidelined for the season. Huws and Bishop had both been sidelined for long spells before suffering their in-game injuries.

Adeyemi has been limited to just three starts since his summer arrival, not playing since ‘tweaking’ his hamstring in the warm-up ahead of a game against Bristol City in September, while Dean Gerken has a hip problem which needs further exploration.

Tommy Smith has made just seven starts since undergoing back surgery in September 2016, while Adam Webster – who was sidelined for the best part of a year with ankle problems – is currently out with an Achilles injury.

Luke Hyam has just returned to action following 18 months out with knee/ankle problems, while Grant Ward suffered a slight groin tear in the recent 4-1 defeat at Fulham.

Nydam (hip/groin), Downes (calf/fatigue) and Cole Skuse (bruised foot) have missed games recently, while David McGoldrick’s had what he describes as ‘freak’ setbacks.