Town boss Paul Lambert has revealed that midfielder Flynn Downes will be out for three months with the knee injury he suffered in Saturday’s away game at the MK Dons, while left-back Stephen Ward is likely to miss the weekend visit to Blackpool with the achilles problem he picked up at Stadium MK.

Asked about Downes’s injury, which he suffered soon after coming off the bench, leaving the Blues with 10 men for the final 22 minutes of the match, Lambert said: “He’ll be out for three months. We have to get on with it. It’s a bad one, we have to get on with it.

“Wardy’s the same, but not three months. We hope he’ll be back pretty quick. But we’ve got long-term ones.”

"He says Downes won’t need an operation: “I don’t think he’ll need surgery, it’s a bad one, so we’re going to lose him for a couple of months. That’s the game.”

The 21-year-old's injury would seem likely to end Crystal Palace's immediate interest in signing him, however, the Eagles, who have been eyeing the former England U20 international since last season, could well revisit the situation in the next window.

The Blues manager says Ward is unlikely to be ready for the trip to Bloomfield Road on Saturday: “It looks like it, unless he makes an incredible recovery. Wardy’s been there, seen it and done it. He’s been excellent for us and if he’s out then somebody else has to step up.”

Photo: Matchday Images

grow_our_own added 21:42 - Oct 6 On tonight & Saturday's evidence, Ndaba instead of Kenlock at left back in that case. Gutted about Downes.
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Woolfenthen added 21:43 - Oct 6 time for Kenlock to have blinder on Saturday
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Chrisd added 21:52 - Oct 6 I hope Ward's achilles injury isn't the same one as KVY? We might not be seeing him for the foreseeable either.
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Len_Brennan added 22:07 - Oct 6 Probably puts any transfer to bed until next Summer. We need to get Emyr Huws up to speed, without Downes we are just lacking presence in the midfield three when the pressure comes on.
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algarvefan added 22:12 - Oct 6 Ndaba please for Blackpool, Kenlock is just not on his game currently.
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arc added 22:51 - Oct 6 Lambert's man-management of Downes hasn't been good. I know an injury can happen any time and is essentially bad luck, but since his comments about him after the transfer bid, Downes has been back to his manic worst, instead of the controlled, dominating midfielder he was becoming. I hate to think that a derisory transfer bid from Crystal Palace will be the highpoint of Downes' career.

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ringwoodblue added 23:01 - Oct 6 More bad injury news as if the list wasn't long enough already and all of them are key players with no decent replacement. Downes won't leave now but if he's injured then we won't benefit from him anyway. Ironically Ward may be the biggest miss of all as I've been really impressed by him so far. Think we will struggle to keep clean sheets without him so we must start scoring more goals at the other end.

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KiwiBlue2 added 23:05 - Oct 6 arc - hopefully during his convalescence he will be able to clear his head and focus back on doing his best for Ipswich and then later seeing what other opportunities arise. I wonder about the quality of advice that he is receiving given his approach and overly aggressive performance on Saturday. Fingers crossed that he emerges in a positive frame of mind and continues his development.........

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Karlosfandangal added 23:15 - Oct 6 Nolan, Bishop, Dozzell have been excellent in the middle. Downes is a lost from last season... but what I have seen of him this season he is far from his best. Don't think we will miss him too much at the minute. Hope the lad comes back as his old self as he will be a huge asset to the run in, in the second half of the season.
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Northstandveteran added 06:23 - Oct 7 Should have sold him when we had the chance. Doesn't want to play for us now he can't.
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MonkeyAlan added 08:24 - Oct 7 We will miss Ward. Bet it's longer than just the Blackpool game. As for Downes well 3 months out, no operation, then starts light trainings, pulls up again and has to have an op. Out for the season, it's the Ipswich way.
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Michael101 added 09:17 - Oct 7 As I have said before let change our name to crocks r us.
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matthewwylds added 09:27 - Oct 7 That's the best player we got out end of
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runningout added 10:06 - Oct 7 Only sign on Robust players is the answer. Maybe less training on artificial turf too
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bobble added 11:05 - Oct 7 we have played best when downes wasnt available, he is a hindrance not a benefit. i fully expect we will win more games now and set ourselves up for promotion without selfish spoiler players....
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Razor added 11:22 - Oct 7 I am sure our world reknowned medical dept have everything under control
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Sixto6 added 12:14 - Oct 7 I hope Ward is back quickly as Kenlock is dreadful - seriously out of his depth and would struggle in the national league !
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Icantbelieveyousaidt added 14:07 - Oct 7 Please do not treat Miles Kenlock the same as some of you did with Aristote Nsiala. Granted he is not the best full back we have ever had, but apart from one glaring error on Saturday, he was part of a defence that manfully gained us a point last weekend. Try using language that you would use to his face.....
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Pilgrimblue added 21:01 - Oct 7 Looks like FD will be back in time for next transfer window! Agreed about Ward as he's proved a shrewd signing. But maybe he'll be missing a few weeks so I'd be tempted to try 532 with Donacian and Edwards as wide men thereby allowing Chambo to move back into the middle where he can keep defence in order. That would get another striker in rather than leave Hawkins up front on his own as in last game he was very isolated with none of the midfield getting near enough to his knock downs. Sears is wasted out wide as he doesn't deliver enough.

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