As we enter perhaps the most critical stage of the Sky Bet Championship season, it is reassuring to know that manager Mick McCarthy will be able to call upon both Cole Skuse and Daryl Murphy as we travel to Cardiff this weekend.
The may not have been greatly missed over the last few games but it does give our manager some options and the squad is beginning to look a little less threadbare.
Encouraging news too about long term absentee David McGoldrick who is back training and the striker is said to be on the mend.
McCarthy thinks he is about a month away from getting back into the squad but in all reality it is unlikely that he will play anything more than a bit part between now and season’s end.
It is one thing getting into the squad again and another getting into the team but there is little doubt that he has been missed this term because he is one of the most gifted players around when he hits peak form and remember, he also has something to prove!
If he still holds aspirations of making it into the Republic of Ireland European Championship side, then he really has to get his skates on and this may also work in Town’s favour too?!
Less fortunate perhaps is Teddy Bishop who looks as if he is still struggling to overcome a series of injuries that have plagued his young career this season sadly.
It seems unlikely that he will be involved – even if we make the play-off’s and this is very disappointing for us and hugely frustrating for him, of this there is little doubt.
Back to Cardiff on Saturday and it is important we get something from this game because if the home side are victorious, then it is they who will be favourites to overtake Sheffield Wednesday and claim the one remaining play-off place up for grabs.
The players we have to watch out for are Pilkington, Noone and Whittingham because they can all score goals and are the main threats in their attack.
Bartosz Bialkowski will have to continue his great form of late in this encounter I fear because at home, Cardiff City are a force to be reckoned with.
They will be without former Manchester United defender Fabio however as he was given two yellows within the space of just seven minutes in their last match when they lost at home to Leeds United 0-2; but largely against the run of play and even with ten men, they posed a real threat and were unlucky to lose.
I would take a draw from this one but would dearly love a win – if only to make up for the one we could and perhaps should have got in midweek against Bolton Wanderers.
Frank Weston – editor of Vital Ipswich
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