Town manager Mick McCarthy won’t rush David McGoldrick’s return to action after the knee problems which ended the striker's 2013/14. The 26-year-old, the Blues' 16-goal top scorer last season, suffered a partial tear to a medial ligament in February, then underwent cartilage surgery in April.

McGoldrick is back in training but McCarthy has yet to pencil in a friendly in which he will make his return: “Only when he’s ready. Only when he and the physio tell me he’s ready.

“I’d sooner him miss the first month of the season - I’m not saying he will, I’m hopeful he’ll be there for the start - but I’d sooner he missed the start and then played the next nine as opposed to rushing him back and him being out with niggly injuries for three or four months. I don’t want that.”

Meanwhile, the Town boss is giving his squad some time off after a busy first few weeks of pre-season: “They’re all having the weekend off.

“Me and TC are going to Portugal, we’re playing at the Sir Bobby Robson Classic golf tournament. We’re all back in on Monday.

“I’ll probably end up with 20 players again and what they all did last year was play 40-odd games. They’ve worked hard for the last two weeks, they need a break, so we’re all having the weekend off.”

Photo: Action Images

Sospiri added 02:16 - Jul 17 So, he had a partial medial ligament tear, which is not too major, but then had cartilage surgery. So he actually had two different injuries. The latter is much more serious than the first. Hope it doesn't ruin him.
6

Benters added 05:38 - Jul 17 Lets hope he gets fit soon as this could cost us again for the season
3

carsey added 06:37 - Jul 17 Bollocks
1

Jimmy86 added 07:15 - Jul 17 Or perhaps bring in another striker anyway?? Good to have extra options, especially up front. Murphy scores goals and is a handful, taylor isn't an out and out striker, nouble is just not up to it and marriott and mcqueen are inexperienced
2

ericclacton added 07:59 - Jul 17 We miss him big time, you ask anybody you ask me?
2

AndyKing added 08:32 - Jul 17 Actually, in terms of recovery, ligament damage is much more serious than cartilage. After cartilage surgery, he'd be kicking a football between two or three weeks. The hold up is the ligament
2

karls_dad added 09:05 - Jul 17 Who said Nouble was a striker? whats this the half hour comedy show! the sooner we move him on the better, waste of a town shirt! Some may think that i,m not his biggest fan? as if!
0

Cakeman added 09:31 - Jul 17 This is a concern. It looks touch and go if he will start the season and if he does he will take some time to settle as he has not been in match action for a long time. Unfortunately Ebanks-Blake never returned to the standard he was before his lengthy absence. I hope the same doesn't happen to McGoldrick. Either way we need another striker of proven goal scoring ability to support the likes of Murphy, Nouble, Marriott and Taylor.

1

Popeye added 09:50 - Jul 17 I agree we need to sign another striker if possible.
1

Lightningboy added 11:43 - Jul 17 Even with McGoldrick fit I would still like us bring in another striker. Not a loanee though.
1

Michael11 added 11:44 - Jul 17 I'd rather give Jack Marriott the first month of the season to prove he's up to this level before a panic signing on loan. If he looks out of his depth, then I think we should sign another striker. In his position, experience doesn't really matter. If he gets in the right positions and gets the service then he'll get goals.
2

jas0999 added 11:59 - Jul 17 I sincerely hope this is not the end of our transfer dealings. If McGoldrick isn't fit, then we are lacking up front. Murphy and Nouble can't be relied upon for goals. We need a striker. We also need a jonny Williams type player!
4

Jimmy86 added 12:08 - Jul 17 Jas0999 nouble certainly can't but id say murphy chipped in with more than his fair share of goals when didz was out, I know you dont totally raye him but the improvement he made last season was brilliant
3

MaySixth added 13:35 - Jul 17 SCOTT HOGAN
0

marcus1642 added 15:58 - Jul 17 The amount of time Didzey has had off would indicate to me that his injuries were pretty serious. He might not be the same player, and may have lost a yard of pace. Lets hope not. Michael Owen was never the same player when he returned from injury. Time will tell.
2

karls_dad added 16:16 - Jul 17 As i have had a couple of minus,s thrown my way, so what exactly does our big Frank bring to the team? he can,t hit a barn door with a cabbage at ten paces, yes he runs around alot, but a quality stiker he certainly is NOT! and i doubt ever will be. I stand by my comment he is a waste of a town shirt, come on everyone justify him being in the starting eleven! how many did he score last year for actual time on the pitch? very very poor. .We need that extra quality striker for sure, and MM knows it, Mc Goldrick is going to be well off the pace for at least another three months if that, he may never be able to reproduce his form after such an injury!

8

runningout added 16:22 - Jul 17 Your right.... Why on earth are we depending on McGoldrick? He had a decent part season, and is an average player who excelled. We are in need of a hungry lower league forward for sure
2

TimmyH added 19:41 - Jul 17 hmmm...doesn't sound promising, without dids and Williams our attacking options has to be said doesn't look like a team that's going to get in the top 6 to be honest, but as mentioned Murphy did a reasonable job while McG was out (thank God).
1

alexsmith111 added 22:28 - Jul 17 I agree, a early twenties, league 1 or 2. Consistent striker needed. David and daryl are great, but not complete
1

karls_dad added 23:11 - Jul 17 At last some sense is arising on the forum, Please MM ship Nouble out or at least send him out on loan to be somebody elses burden, then find us a strong pacy accurate goal hungry striker! we need one desperate, too just rely on McGoldrick is utter madness, it just ain,t gonna happen!
3

Wickets added 13:11 - Jul 18 I've been worried about our star man, ever since i saw him sitting on his bum at the end of last game he played(cant remember who we where playing) he was in pain and it didn't look good. Hope i'm not the voice of doom but still worried.
2

Kirbmeister added 21:45 - Jul 18 Michael11 - Mariott isn't ready for the starting in first team yet. Hopefully he will be eventually but, even if McGoldrick is not ready, it wont be Marriott starting.
1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls