Ipswich vs Milton Keynes Dons - Teddy Bishop pushing for a start as Ipswich host MK Dons

Posted Friday, April 29, 2016 by PA

Ipswich welcome the already-relegated MK Dons to Portman Road on Saturday looking to end a seven-game winless streak which put paid to their Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes.

Mick McCarthy's side drew 0-0 with promotion-chasing Middlesbrough last week but are without a victory since March 15 and still have a number of players on the sidelines.

Forwards Daryl Murphy (calf), Luke Varney (hamstring) and Larsen Toure (groin) could all miss out while Giles Coke is also absent following knee surgery.

Midfielder Teddy Bishop is pushing for his first start of an injury-hit campaign having made late substitute appearances in the Tractor Boys' last two games.

Dons boss Karl Robinson faces a dilemma over whether to pick defender Kyle McFadzean and central midfielder Samir Carruthers for the remaining two matches.

Both players are currently on 14 yellow cards and will automatically get a three-match suspension with another booking this season, which would carry over into the 2016/17 campaign.

Knowing the Dons will be back in League One next season, Robinson will give some of the club's young players a chance to impress.

"We have to approach the last two games reflecting on the future of the football club, not just the immediate future, and there are a few young players we're going to draft in," said the Milton Keynes manager. "There are some kids I'm really interested in. There's an under-16 who will be travelling with us, hopefully, on Saturday and there will also be an under-17 on the bench."