Skipper Luke Chambers and midfielder Toumani Diagouraga have been ill and striker Freddie Sears has been nursing a groin problem but manager Mick McCarthy is "hopeful and pretty certain" all three will be available for Sunday’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Carrow Road (Sky Sports Two from 11.30am, KO midday).

“We’ve a few bumps and bruises and tired limbs from the games we’ve just come through,” McCarthy said.

“Chambo was ill earlier in the week, but was in today. Toums, he’s poorly and he’s gone home today and we’ll have to see how he is, there’s been a bit of a bug going around. All the other little bumps and bruises and tired limbs, I’ll think they’ll all be OK.

“Freddie Sears hasn’t trained, he’s had a bit of a groin from probably coming back not having been playing and the shift he put in last week. But I’m hopeful and pretty certain they’ll all be OK.”

Also among those suffering a minor niggle is Teddy Bishop, who suffered a groin problem in the 3-0 U23s win at Crystal Palace on Monday.

McCarthy admits he has decisions to make in what’s again likely to be a three-man central midfield with Diagouraga available having been ineligible against his parent club Leeds last week, Cole Skuse having started alongside Emyr Huws and Grant Ward.

“They’ve all played well,” the Town boss reflected. “Skusey’s been ever-present since walking through the door. Emyr Huws, along with Toums, has been outstanding, and one of the standout performers recently has been Wardy having gone and played in the centre. It’s a tough one.”

Asked whether this is the first time in his time at Town that Skuse hasn't necessarily been an automatic choice, McCarthy responded: “Who says he’s not an automatic choice?"

Before adding: “It’s serious competition but that still doesn’t mean he’s not an automatic choice. Bart’s had serious competition from Gerks but he’s made himself an automatic choice because he’s played ever so well.

“But you only have to let your guard down and not play well. However, I can’t honestly hand on heart say Skusey’s done that, he’s been terrific. But it is a difficult decision because they’ve all played well.”

McCarthy similarly has options at right wing-back with Jordan Spence and Josh Emmanuel both having impressed.

“Isn’t it lovely?” he added. “It’s only a month ago when [the media] were asking me the names of the subs on the bench as [they] didn’t know them.

“It makes a big difference, it makes it harder picking the team, it makes it harder picking the squad, it certainly makes it difficult if any of those players have to sit in the stand and watch the game.

“But it’s better for me and it’s better for the team and better for the club that we’ve now got that level of players competing to play.”

He says he’s yet to pick his team: “Even if I had made the decisions I wouldn’t tell anybody as yet because you do that and you find out one of them injured and you’ve disappointed the other one who has got to come back.

“The lads are off tomorrow and I’ll sort that out on Saturday. I give myself plenty of time to think about it.”

McCarthy confirmed that Ipswich-born midfielder Luke Hyam will travel with the squad for the first time since returning from his knee injury having played his second U23s match at Palace, a game in which January signing Danny Rowe scored.

“He scored a really good goal and played well, Danny,” McCarthy continued. “He’s come from three days a week training with a slight injury but we’re really pleased with him, he’s doing very, very well. He’ll be on the bus.”

Steven Taylor (hamstring), Jonny Williams (shoulder), Adam Webster (ankle), Dominic Samuel (broken toe) and Giles Coke (knee) all remain sidelined with injury while Tom Lawrence is suspended for a second game having amassed 10 bookings.

Norwich are hopeful on right-back Ivo Pinto and midfielder Steven Naismith, who have trained this week after knocks.

But Youssouf Mulumbu (thigh) remains a doubt and Nelson Oliveira (foot), Graham Dorrans (knee) and Louis Thompson (achilles) remain unavailable.

Photo: TWTD

BanksterDebtSlave added 14:59 - Feb 23 So who's on the bus ? Luke, Danny or both ?
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iaintaylorx added 15:25 - Feb 23 Go and attack them and would be great if we could get one over of that big headed lot! Bart Chambers, Berra, Knudsen Emmanuel, Kenlock Diags, Huws, Ward Didzy, Sears Would love to see that, but who knows with Mick! COYB!!
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iaintaylorx added 15:25 - Feb 23 Obviously Josh and Myles as wing backs...
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oldelsworthyfan added 15:30 - Feb 23 Good shout iaintaylorx! MM, since when has Skuse or Douglas been part of our 'revival'? Just leave them behind at the week-end and pick a team that will tear into Norwich's poor defence!
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PhilTWTD added 15:31 - Feb 23 BanksterDebtSlave Both!
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bubbybiue added 15:36 - Feb 23 As long as every town player gives 110% when they go over that line that's all i want to see, and a town win .
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cat added 15:36 - Feb 23 At last, some selection headaches for MM!!!, and a test to see what his plans are. I'm positive we can get something out of this game. l hope we give it our all and just go for it and not sit back and play for a draw.
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midastouch added 16:35 - Feb 23 We might need to take a double decker bus. One deck for all injured and ill players (they can sit downstairs), and any remaining fit players up on the top deck! In fact if you took out all our loan players they could prob just about squeeze into a mini cab! ;-)
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Seasider added 16:38 - Feb 23 Manager didn't like question about Skues no longer being an automatic choice,and reading his reply looks like he is going to put 'Sideways 'back in.Might not have done so had the question not been asked;but we all know what 'bloody minded'Mick is like. Its fortunate for him that Toums is unwell at the moment;so even if he gets over it McCarthy will be able to say that it has weakened him,or something similar. Lets hope he surprises me for once;but looks at last that Dougie is no longer a shoo in,even if the game is away;but you never know!

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midastouch added 16:49 - Feb 23 In the latest Fifa 17 update yesterday Skuse has been awarded 73 out of 100 and yet Huws is only 67! Even my boy was laughing about that and he's 7! If Cardiff ever wanted to swap Skuse for Huws I'd bite their hand off faster than you could say Jack Flash!
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hogster1970 added 17:18 - Feb 23 Hmmmmmmmmmm dave from leeds is ill. Yer right o and my mum's the Pope. Let's hope dave is fit and well as we need him in the middle with huw and ward. And I'm hoping josh will be back at r wing back. It's do or die for MM on how he picks the team. For most of us its a no brainer on the starting line up. But come on let's smash the budgies back doors in. And go 3 5 2 like we have been playing

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hogster1970 added 17:22 - Feb 23 And after the first half display buy scuse I hope hyam is on the bench instead of Cole. As much as I like the guy but he just isn't dynamic enough for me even in the holding role
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Sam added 17:38 - Feb 23 We certainly need them. They are great players and have got to help Ipswich beat the canaries. COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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therein61 added 18:39 - Feb 23 If fit Toumani has to start he gives us a midfield presence that we have lacked you only have to look at Ward's performances beside him since he's been here, I pray he's fit otherwise mr negative(crawling favourite) is in and we are overwhelmed in midfield and in trouble as usual!!
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runaround added 18:40 - Feb 23 Hope Dave recovers from his bug as I'd much rather have him then Skuse but knowing Mick he will play Skuse
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Mark added 19:06 - Feb 23 I can't agree that Skuse has been "terrific" this season. He's had good games and bad games, made good tackles and worked hard, but his passing has not been good and he has not scored a single goal. For me, Diagouraga and Huws have showed us what we have been missing in midfield. I would have those two and Ward in ahead of Skuse personally.
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