Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna expects left-back Leif Davis to be fit to play Huddersfield on Saturday at the John Smiths Stadium.
Davis worsened an ankle injury he sustained against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday in a 4-3 win over Blackburn and was not named to the 20-man team for the 3-2 Carabao Cup win over Wolverhampton in midweek.
“He should be fine,” McKenna stated at the pre-match press conference this afternoon.
“He was touch and go for Tuesday night but he seems much better over the last 48 hours, so we’re hopeful that he might be involved on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, the Blues manager stated that Christian Walton and Axel Tuanzebe are close to being ready for selection.
Tuanzebe, a centre-back who was released by Manchester United at the end of last season, joined the Blues on a free transfer earlier this month.
The 25-year-old has struggled with a back problem in recent years, and Ipswich have been careful not to rush him into action after a short pre-season.
“He’s not too far,” McKenna remarked. “This is probably the last week before we start thinking about him for match action.”
“He’s been training well; he had a check-up with the specialist on Tuesday and received a positive report, so he’s training well and contributing to the group.”
“I believe we’ll consider him available for matches starting next week.” Of course, the other center-halves are up and running and enjoying terrific seasons right now, so he has some time to really build up his match-type exposure.
“We’ll hopefully have a friendly in the international break, which will realistically be a really good chance to get some good minutes into him and try and have him available predominantly after the international break to come and help us when we think the time is right.”
“We think, unless there are any changes, he’ll be available to be in the squad next week,” McKenna said of goalkeeper Walton, who sustained a plantar fascia tear (foot) in preseason. He has participated in group training.
“The medical team and Rene (Gilmartin, keeper coach) want him to complete one or two more really intense sessions and if he comes through them well, hopefully he’ll be available for the games next week.”
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