David McGoldrick, Tommy Smith, Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam have all been passed fit for Ipswich Town’s trip to Sheffield United, but Emyr Huws and Tom Adeyemi remained sidelined.

McGoldrick was substituted with a tight hamstring during the second half of Town’s 3-1 home defeat to Bristol City, but still joined up with the Republic of Ireland squad during the international weekend.

A scan revealed he had suffered no damage, but he was left out of Martin O’Neill’s squad for the home win over Moldova last Friday and then sent home prior to Monday’s crucial World Cup qualifying win in Wales.

It was a situation which left Blues fans worried their talismanic forward – who has scored six goals in 10 at the start of this season – may be sidelined yet again following two years of injury frustration.

Mccarthy, alleviating such fears, revealed: “He’s okay. He just felt it tighten against Bristol City and bearing in mind the problems he’s had with his hamstring it was prudent to come off because he certainly didn’t want to tear it and be out for a long time.

“The scan showed there was no damage to it. He’s fine, he’s trained this week and he’s in good shape thankfully.”

Town have conceded 16 goals in their 10 league games, but McCarthy’s defensive options are boosted by the return to fitness of long-term absentees Adam Webster and Tommy Smith.

Webster, who whas been sidelined for much of this year with a recurring ankle injury, came on as a half-time substitute in the 3-1 loss to Bristol City.

Smith, who missed much of last season following back surgery and has more recently been sidelined with a hamstring problem, has recently returned to action with two outings for the Under-23s.

“Tommy will travel,” said McCarthy. “I’ve got some decisions to make in defence now, but it’s a better decision to make than having to scratch around. As somebody said to me the other day ‘it’s better looking at them than for them’.”

Teenage midfield duo Downes and Nydam are also fit. Downes has missed the last three games with a thigh injury, but played 90 minutes for the U23s this week, while Nydam had to withdraw from the England U19 squad last weekend due to a tight groin.

Meanwhile, central midfielders Emyr Huws and Tom Adeyemi remain sidelined.

Huws hasn’t featured at all since Town turned his loan spell from Cardiff into a permanent move, courtesy of a £1m transfer fee this summer, due to an Achilles problem the club are hoping will settle without surgery.

Adyemi was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up against Bristol City after he injured his hamstring in the warm-up.

“Emyr is still struggling on with that Achilles and is no nearer training as far as I’m aware,” said McCarthy. “He must be nearer, but he’s really having a tough time with that.

“We all saw what a very talented player he is and what contribution he made at the end of last season. I was really excited to sign him and was looking forward to seeing him play, I think everybody was.

“That’s tough on all of us that, but toughest of all on Emyr himself.”

On Adeyemi, he added: “He just tweaked his hamstring in warm-up and is still having treatment. We’re looking at him being back in training on Monday. He’ll be looking at the Norwich game (next Sunday).”

There was better news regarding midfielder Teddy Bishop, the 21-year-old having endured two injury-ravaged seasons and recently undergone groin surgery.

“He’s out on the grass,” said McCarthy. “I think I told you a couple of weeks ago, when I asked him how he was he told me ‘I’m great!’ That will do for me, let’s leave it at that! I’m not going to interrogate him any more because it’s not very often I’ve had that response from Bish.

“Again today he’s said exactly the same, he feels really good.”