Ipswich Town hope to have top scorer Daryl Murphy back to face Cardiff City in Wales on Tuesday.

The Republic of Ireland striker was ruled out of the 1-1 home draw with Blackburn Rovers because of an Achilles problem.

Sixth-placed Ipswich, who host Town on Saturday, are unbeaten in eight Championship games and have drawn three successive matches.

Former Celtic man Murphy, 31, has six goals this season.

His late strike condemned Town to a 2-1 defeat at Portman Road last December.

Midfielder Luke Hyam (hamstring/hip) and defender Luke Chambers (ill) also missed out against Blackburn, who scored a late leveller.

Chambers was recently linked with Town, but has signed a new contract at Ipswich.

“I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know whether Luke Chambers will be back,” explained McCarthy.

“Daryl is training again, so there is every chance that he will play. But Luke Hyam will not be fit.”

Leaders Watford host fifth-placed Nottingham Forest aiming to build on their 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

It was Slavisa Jokanovic’s first match as manager.

“We can stay top of the league, but it will be tough,” said the former Chelsea player.

Forest suffered their first defeat of the league season, 2-1 at Cardiff, on Saturday.

Boss Stuart Pearce, whose side play Town at the John Smith’s Stadium a week on Saturday, said: “It is not one of these things to panic about.

“Football is an industry where it is easy to throw the baby out with the bath water.

“That is not what I am about as a manager and I hope that is not what we are about as a football club.

“We are aware that we have not done as well as we should have done.

“This is probably the only time this season when I have been able to say that I am disappointed with our level of performance.”

Second-placed Derby County go to Blackpool, fourth-placed Middlesbrough aim to build on their 2-1 South-coast success at Brighton when they head to Wolves and Norwich City, in fourth, are at home to Leeds United.

The Canaries lost 1-0 at Fulham on Saturday and manager Neil Adams said of their dipping form: “It’s not good enough. We didn’t hurt Fulham enough.”