Ipswich Town’s chances of beating Nottingham Forest just got a whole lot harder as update emerges
Ipswich Town’s chances of beating Nottingham Forest just got a whole lot harder as update emerges
Injuries have been relatively kind to Nottingham Forest this season, but Monday’s FA Cup opponents Ipswich Town have been dealt a significant blow.
One significant absentee spawned from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s injury against Southampton, with the winger missing for the 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth and only returning for a cameo in Forest’s defeat to Fulham.
The FA Cup has brought up injury problems this season, too, with Taiwo Awoniyi suffering a facial injury against Exeter City in the fourth round, which kept him out of action for a couple of games.
Even when there have looked to be serious fitness concerns, such as when Murillo had to be taken off against Brighton, but Murillo was then spotted walking freely after the Brighton clash, which once again left Nuno Espirito Santo breathing a sigh of relief.
Ipswich don’t look to have been as lucky as the Forest manager, as their latest injury update ahead of Monday’s game makes for grim reading.
Ipswich Town to be without Omari Hutchinson against Nottingham Forest
Ahead of the FA Cup fifth round, Espirito Santo hinted at squad rotation against Ipswich which doesn’t look to be a luxury that Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna can afford.
Speaking to club media on Friday, McKenna revealed that talisman Omari Hutchinson will be unavailable for Monday’s game due to an injury sustained against Manchester United on Wednesday.
He said: “He’s [Hutchinson] getting some scans, there’s some damage there but not as bad as it could’ve been with the tackle that it was so yeah, he won’t be available certainly for the next game [vs Forest] and we have to make assessments after that.”
Hutchinson has started all but two of Ipswich’s Premier League games this season with five goal contributions to his name, clearly indicating that he would’ve played a significant role on Monday if he was fit.
He’s not the only one out, though, as McKenna is currently missing a whole host of his first team stars ahead of their visit to the City Ground.
Ipswich have a punishing injury list ahead of Nottingham Forest clash
With the Forest squad looking healthy, McKenna must be rueing his luck at the injuries he is dealing with during an already difficult season for his side.
Expanding more on the fitness of some of his other first team stars with the East Anglian Daily Times he said: “Kalvin [Phillips] is progressing well, but we’re not exactly sure when he’s going to be back. He’s not training with the group today or for the next few days. That’s a day-by-day case.
Then on goalkeeper Christian Walton, he said: “I can’t put an exact timescale on it but he’s back doing some work on the grass with the goalie coaches. He’s not involved with the team yet so we will see how he progresses. He is moving in the right direction.”
His remarkable performance has led to Forest preparing to offer Espirito Santo a new contract but when reading the brutal Ipswich injury list, the Portuguese manager must be feeling incredibly relieved at how the season has gone from an injury record perspective above all else.
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