Page 10 - Josh Carson News Today

Town boss Paul Jewell says there have been no developments regarding the contract talks with Josh Carson and skipper Grant Leadbitter over the Christmas period. The duo now have less than six months on their deals and – along with 14 other players including Carlos Edwards and Jason Scotland – can now talk to other clubs about summer Bosman moves.

Town’s FA Cup campaign came to a third round end for the fifth time in eight years as the Blues lost 3-1 at Hull City. The home side were 2-0 in front at the break via Aaron Mclean and Tom Cairney before half-time sub Jason Scotland pulled one back for Town, but Cameron Stewart sealed the Tigers’ place in round four in injury time.

Town snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the closing moments for the second week running as Reading left Portman Road with a 3-2 win. Daryl Murphy opened the scoring 11 minutes after the break, Kaspars Gorkss equalised for the Royals before Josh Carson’s deflected shot put the Blues back in front. Town looked to have won it but Alex Pearce and Noel Hunt netted at the death to see the Blues to their third successive 3-2 defeat.

Richard Wright makes his third Town debut having been named in the Blues starting line-up for this afternoons game against Reading with David Stockdale out with a minor shoulder problem.

Town fell to their second 3-2 defeat in two games as Nottingham Forest netted twice in the last six minutes to come from behind to deny the Blues their first win at the City Ground for 12 years. Danny Collins scored two goals in a game for the first time in his professional career, putting the Blues in front twice, but Robbie Findley equalised for the home side before the break, then Joel Lynch and Marcus Tudgay netted another leveller and the winner in injury time.

Boss Paul Jewell will be weighing up whether to stick with his diamond formation or make a change to his system when the Blues take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday. Town are again without central defenders Ibrahma Sonko and Damien Delaney and striker Daryl Murphy, but midfielder Lee Bowyer and frontman Nathan Ellington are both fit again and Tamás Priskin has made it back from Hungary.

Town boss Paul Jewell says skipper Grant Leadbitter’s agent has told him that the 25-year-old is happy to take his time before deciding on his future. Leadbitter, who was

Out-of-favour midfielder Owen Garvan lashed in a stunning third goal to help Town’s reserves to a 3-1 victory at Luton this afternoon. Liam Trotter and Pablo Couñago (pen) had already hit the target before Garvan slammed home an Ed Upson corner from the edge of the area off the underside of the crossbar.

Loanee defender Darren O’Dea will start for the Republic of Ireland when they take on Norway in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Wednesday (Sky Sports One, 7.30pm). The on-loan Celtic man, who will partner Manchester United’s John O’Shea at the centre of the defence, will win his third full cap.

Academy midfielder Josh Carson says he hadn’t expected to be called up to the Northern Ireland U21 squad having only broken into the U19 squad this season. Carson and Town team-mate Caolan Lavery are in the party taking on Scotland at Partick Thistle’s Firhill on Wednesday.