Ipswich Town are battling an injury crisis. Mark Heath takes a look at all Town's injured players and when they could return to action...
Chiedozie Ogbene
Injury: Potential Achilles tear
Could return: 4-12 months depending on treatment
The latest and most serious casualty to join the Ipswich Town treatment room, rapid attacker Ogbene suffered a non-contact injury in the first half at Brentford on Saturday.
He was stretchered off in a lot of pain, with boss Kieran McKenna saying after the game the injury appears to be an Achilles tear.
The Town manager explained: "With Chieo it looks like an Achilles tear. We hope that won't be the case, but I think that's what looks most likely."
Once confirmed, it's likely that Ogbene will have surgery and miss a significant period of time. Depending on the treatment, and how well he recovers, Ogbene is probably looking at spending at least six months on the sidelines - so we may not see him again until next season.
Axel Tuanzebe
Injury: Hand laceration
Could return: After next international break
The cultured defender started the season in impressive fashion, but has missed the last three games after suffering a serious hand injury while washing-up at home.
Incredibly, the accident was so bad that the 26-year-old DR Congo international almost lost his thumb and had to have surgery. There is no exact schedule for his return.
Speaking last Thursday, McKenna said: "The timeframe for Axel is still rough, to be honest.
"He won’t be back before the next international break. We’re still looking at what type of cast can be fitted and when it would be suitable. It won’t be before Tottenham.”
Jacob Greaves
Injury: Hamstring
Could return: After next international break
Like Tuanzebe, the towering summer signing had started the season in fine form, dominating the airspace around him and showing that he's more than capable of excelling in the top tier.
But he was a surprise miss for the Everton game, and it appears he won't be back ahead of this Saturday's crunch clash with Leicester City.
Speaking about the powerful centre-half after the Everton defeat, McKenna said: "He has a hamstring injury from the West Ham game and is going to be out for a few weeks at least."
Jack Taylor
Injury: Hamstring
Could return: After next international break
The midfielder had impressed in his cameos off the bench to start the season and was set to step in for injured skipper Sam Morsy (more on him shortly) and start alongside Kalvin Phillips at Brentford.
But, in a twist of bad luck, he also got injured in training late last week. He's another we won't see before Town return to action against Manchester United on November 24th, after the next international break.
After Saturday's game, McKenna said: "The plan was for Jack Taylor to come in for Samy, because Jens (Cajuste) hasn't trained much with the group yet, but he picked up an injury at the back end of the training week, which is disappointing for him and us."
He added: "Jack will be out until at least after the international break."
Massimo Luongo
Injury: Ankle
Could return: After next international break
Midfielder Luongo had unretired from international action and was all set to meet up with his Australian team-mates over the October international break, but withdrew from the squad with an ankle injury.
McKenna has since revealed that he suffered the injury in the pulsating 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and will be out 'for the next block of games.'
That suggests he's another we won't see until the end of November at the earliest.
Ben Johnson
Injury: Thigh
Could return: On Saturday vs Leicester City
The utility defender endured a torrid time against former club West Ham in that 4-1 drubbing and hasn't been seen since.
With Tuanzebe out and Harry Clarke suspended, Town will be hoping he could be fit enough to challenge for the starting right back role against Leicester City this weekend.
McKenna said last Thursday: “Ben Johnson is still out with a small thigh injury. There was a possibility he could have made it for this weekend, but he’s not been able to make it.
"We’ll have to see how he is next week."
Sam Morsy
Injury: Hamstring
Could return: On Saturday vs Leicester City
Town's super skipper was an unexpected absentee at Brentford, with McKenna revealing after the game that he's another to have gone down with a hamstring injury - joining Greaves and Taylor in the hamstrung crew.
McKenna said on Saturday: "Samy picked up a hamstring strain in the Everton game that he managed to finish the game with, but wasn't available for this one."
Of his potential return, the Town boss added: "We don't know with Samy. That's not quite as significant (as Jack Taylor), but there's going to be a big, big question mark around next week (home to Leicester)."
Omari Hutchinson
Injury: Illness
Could return: On Saturday vs Leicester City
Like Taylor, exciting young attacker Hutchinson was a late scratch for the Brentford game.
All we know about that is he was ill, so hopefully Town's record signing will be fit and firing after a week of recovering and can return to face the Foxes this weekend.
McKenna said of his absence: "Omari was due to start the game, but was sick in the early hours and through the morning. That was another late change."
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