Ipswich vs Nottingham Forest - Pennington and Downes hoping to return

Posted Thursday, March 14, 2019 by PA

Bottom club Ipswich should have defender Matthew Pennington and midfielder Flynn Downes available following illness for the Sky Bet Championship match against Nottingham Forest.

Veteran goalkeeper Dean Gerken has also shaken off the sickness bug which had impacted on several players at the club’s Playford Road training base.

Collin Quaner is back into contention after the striker missed the midweek draw at Bristol City with a minor knee problem and defender James Collins (calf) has also resumed training.

Forward Will Keane (hamstring) and Emyr Huws (knee) are not yet match fit, while Tom Adeyemi (Achilles), Grant Ward (knee), Jack Lankester (back) and Freddie Sears (knee) all continue their rehabilitation.

Forest will have defender Jack Robinson available again following a two-match suspension.

Striker Lewis Grabban missed the midweek home defeat by Aston Villa as he recovers from an Achilles injury and will not be rushed back into action.

Forward Karim Ansarifard and midfielder Joao Carvalho were both drafted into the team on Wednesday night, but Forest boss Martin O’Neill could again freshen up the side.

Defender Sam Byram (knee) is closing in on a return, while midfielder Matty Cash has not played since the start of February following his own Achilles problem.