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Town boss Paul Jewell insists that nothing ought to be read into skipper Grant Leadbitter being left out of the 16 since his return from his groin injury. The midfielder's contract is up in the summer with no new deal yet in place and the £2.65 million 2009 signing from Sunderland's recent absence from the squad had led to speculation that he was set to be sold in January.
Paul Jewell could stick with the line-up which should have beaten Watford last weekend when the Blues travel to Barnsley for Saturday’s live Sky game at Oakwell looking to end their run of seven successive defeats (Sky Sports Two/HD2 5pm). Skipper Grant Leadbitter is expected to miss out again due to his groin injury, while Ívar Ingimarsson is sidelined having broken his nose.
Simon Clegg says the atmosphere at Town’s Playford Road training ground has undergone a complete change since Paul Jewell took over as manager in January. The Blues chief executive was speaking at last night’s PLC AGM where assistant boss Chris Hutchings stood in for Jewell, who was absent on what Clegg described as “important family business”.
Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s been delighted with midfielder Luke Hyam since he took over at Portman Road just under a month ago. The 21-year-old is set to start for the first time under McCarthy’s management against Nottingham Forest at Portman Road tonight (KO 7.45pm).
Town caretaker-boss Chris Hutchings has made three changes for his first and possibly only game in charge of the Blues. Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Daryl Murphy return to the side with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Nigel Reo-Coker and Andy Drury dropping to the bench.