Midfielder Cole Skuse joined in training for the first time since undergoing minor knee surgery before Christmas and he and Emyr Huws could be back in the squad for next week’s home game against Rotherham, while Jon Nolan may return for Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Accrington Stanley.

Manager Paul Lambert says Nolan, who missed the New Year’s Day defeat to Millwall due to a knock, was back on the training field today.

“He did a little bit this morning so we’ll assess him tomorrow to see how he’s feeling,” he said.

He says a couple of other players have bumps and bruises, while Skuse has made a much earlier than expected return to training. The 32-year-old had been expected to be out for two months when he went under the knife in early December.

“One or two little knocks, as you’d probably expect, one or two coming back. Cole trained this morning, Emyr trained this morning, which is really pleasing. We’re getting one or two back, which is good.”

Lambert says Saturday’s cup tie comes too soon for Huws: “No, this one is probably a bit early for him. He’s been out for over a year and it’s a long, long time but the great thing is that he’s back out on the grass and it’s good to have him back.”

Regarding Skuse, Lambert is pleased with the midfielder's progress and says both he and Huws could come into contention for next Saturday’s vital home game against the Millers.

"Asked when the Bristolian might return to match action, Lambert said: “I don’t know, but he’s done great. I didn’t have a chance to speak to him after training because I had to come and speak to you guys [the media] which isn’t my number one priority!

“He’s done great, him and Huws, as long as there’s no reaction to it, I’ll look at them and see how they go for next week.”

Looking at Saturday’s match at Accrington, Lambert admits it’s a chance to look at some of his fringe players but at the same time insists he’ll not be picking a very much weakened team as the Blues look for their first FA Cup victory since 2010.

“There is that but I won’t just pick a team and make it a gift,” he said. “We’ll go there as strong as we can to go through.

“We’re playing really good football at the minute. It doesn’t matter what ground you go to, we have our way of playing and we’ll go and try and win the game.”

Might Bartosz Bialkowski return in goal for Dean Gerken? “I’ll see how Deano is, he’s got a sore one. I’ll have a look at Deano and will see how he is. Bart is doing really well in training and looking like his old self, so I’ll assess it.”

New loan signing Callum Elder will be available to face the League One side but striker Ben Morris, 19, who has returned from his loan spell at Forest Green Rovers, is cup-tied.

Lambert has confirmed that 19-year-old midfielder Tristan Nydam, who is back from his spell with St Johnstone, will not be in his thoughts for the match.

Photo: TWTD

Blue_Again added 16:29 - Jan 3 Would be great to see huws back after what seems an eternity out. Needs to start repaying the fans for just taking wages whilst in the physio room.
3

nysully added 16:34 - Jan 3 Going to Rotherham once this year was enough Phil/Gav! Question is will we be going there 2019-20 and if so which in which division?
1

dirtydingusmagee added 16:44 - Jan 3 Having taken Huws so long to get fit lets hope he dosnt break down again .Fingers crossed .
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:48 - Jan 3 Deano's got a sore one !.Sounds like a chant to me .,
2

warktheline added 17:03 - Jan 3 Really should be going to Stanley with the strongest team possible! Any win at present would be more than welcomed, not just for the manager and players but also for long suffering supporters! We are currently at rock bottom a defeat on Saturday will result, in my opinion, as an all time low throughout the 43 years I've followed and supported Ipswich Town Football Club! Yeah I know Division one beckons but surely every fixture here on in should be approached as a ‘cup final'!

10

Northstandveteran added 17:10 - Jan 3 Huws, Skuse, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb...
10

Northstandveteran added 17:11 - Jan 3 Our midfield line up next season.
6

Northstandveteran added 17:12 - Jan 3 Although rumour has it, Evans unwilling to pay Trumpton f.c the £9.50
8

Saxonblue74 added 17:23 - Jan 3 .....old news northstandveteran. They were top of Hurst's wanted list but were not willing to join under his tenure!
3

1RWR added 17:24 - Jan 3 Northstandveteran: It may have gone over peoples shoulders :-)
3

Saxonblue74 added 17:28 - Jan 3 Sadly not 1RWR, old enough to remember them☺
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Saxonblue74 added 17:41 - Jan 3 Huws back to fitness and form would be huge for us, as would Bart back to his old self as the best keeper in the championship. Better than any two new signings.
3

Cloddyseedbed added 17:54 - Jan 3 Would it be too much to get the club to sort out microphones for the reporters to ask questions into? I'm only hearing answers to questions I can only hazard a guess at. How Paul Lambert wants to run the club is how I and I'm sure many other supporters want it run. If and it's a big if we can keep PL I have high hopes for the future of our great club. If ME doesn't ware him down and force him to move on because he see's no future in the way ME conducts business at ITFC.

10

TimmyH added 18:24 - Jan 3 Just hope our prestigious owner doesn't see the return of Skuse and Huws as a stop to not getting an influential midfielder in the transfer window...still question marks about Huws in my opinion as he really hasn't played enough games for us and what games I have seen he's been either 'in or out' performance wise.
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:38 - Jan 3 Oh what I would give for a fir Huws for the rest of the season
2

Ipswichbusiness added 18:53 - Jan 3 Huws, Skuse, Chalobah, Bishop, Downes, Dozzell, Nydam, Nolan; if fit we have plenty of options in midfield. It's the last area we should be looking to strengthen.
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Pecker added 19:25 - Jan 3 Fingers crossed.
1

brendenward35 added 19:33 - Jan 3 One of the chats on talksport mentioned if a goal keeper wins player of the season then something is seriously wrong with the defense, made me chuckle to think how many times Bart has won it and its true we are in trouble because as soon as they lose form the cracks showed.
4

ronnyd added 20:47 - Jan 3 BlueandTruesince82, soon be time to get rid of your Christmas trees mate.
0

leftie1972 added 21:33 - Jan 3 Huws who?
0

OwainG1992 added 22:05 - Jan 3 Love to see Emyr get fully fit and playing a decent amount of games. If we are do go down and he's fully fit he could absolutely boss league 1. Such a talent. Skuse has very much been missed lately too.
2

PhilTWTD added 22:12 - Jan 3 nysully Just spotted my error! Amended.
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planetblue_2011 added 22:12 - Jan 3 Fantastic news Huws will be back he'll be like a new signing, just hope he stays fit. Great news on Skuse too, if both fit in midfield this is an awesome boost to the team👍🏻
3

heathen66 added 22:15 - Jan 3 There is no way on earth that Skuse can walk back into the side. Chalobah has been superb and Skuse should wait his turn. The youngsters first half against Millwall were brilliant and Chalobah was at the heart of all the good things Won tackles, won headers, passed the call, drove the team forward, had shots in fact everything that no one sees Skuse do. I am sure that seniority will come into it, but Skuse is not the future, should now be a bit part player if needed !!!

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shakytown added 23:18 - Jan 3 Ipswichbusiness. Plenty of options but how many of them are actually of championship quality right NOW and are capable of turning this mess around ???? This has been the problem area for years and is where we need to strengthen most. Most of them have potential but are just not up to 90 minutes of hard football.
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