Ipswich Town could be on the lookout for a new midfielder in January.
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert has confirmed midfielder Cole Skuse is set to miss a couple of months of action after injuring his knee in training, and added it’s an area he thinks needs bolstering, East Anglian Daily Times reports.
“He [Cole Skuse] is going to be out for a couple of months I think. I put Trevoh (Chalobah) in there and I thought he was excellent, but that’s one area of the pitch where I think we need a little bit of help,” Lambert said.
“I know we need a little bit of help, I get that, but we’re not far from being a right top side. We need a little bit of help in January and if that comes in we are going to be a right good side.”
Lambert has been forced to name several youngsters in his line-up of late due to Ipswich’s small squad, with Jack Lankester (18), Flynn Downes (19), Andre Dozzell (18) and Chalobah (19) all featuring.
The Tractor Boys are currently rooted to the bottom of the Championship table and are now seven points adrift of safety, following their latest 2-0 defeat to Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium.
Ipswich are in dire need of some reinforcements in January, but Lambert’s quotes hint that his top priority could be a new central midfielder – and possibly one capable of driving the team forward.
Cole Skuse has been one of Ipswich’s most consistent performers this season and will be a big miss, while at 32, he has also been one of the most influential inside the dressing room.
Lambert may look at his young side and seek experience to try and guide the club to safety, and his best bet may be to look to the top end of the Championship for players currently not making the first 11 – such as Nottingham Forest’s Liam Bridcutt or Derby County’s Jacob Butterfield.
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