IPSWICH star Billy Clarke is fighting a losing battle to be fit for the weekend.Clarke hobbled off in Sunday's derby win over Norwich at Portman Road and is unlikely to be ready to face managerless Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH star Billy Clarke is fighting a losing battle to be fit for the weekend.

Clarke hobbled off in Sunday's derby win over Norwich at Portman Road and is unlikely to be ready to face managerless Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland youth international picked up an ankle injury against the Canaries and was replaced for the last 15 minutes by two-goal hero Danny Haynes.

And while fellow 18-year-old Haynes will be an ideal replacement against the second-bottom Millers, the fact that Clarke is set to miss out is a major blow for boss Jim Magilton.

Clarke played a starring role against Norwich, his twisting and turning, together with a series of darting runs, making life difficult for the visitors.

The Cork-born youngster's

intelligent pass set up the equaliser for midfielder Sylvain Legwinski five minutes before half-time, which proved the launching pad for Town's first home derby success in almost nine years.

Clarke only returned to action on Sunday after missing the defeats by Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday with a knee injury and was hoping for an extended first team run.

He has scored four goals this season, all after coming off the bench, and his displays have alerted a host of Premiership clubs.

With Clarke ruled out, derby hero Haynes should make only his second league start of the season after injury forced him out of the Sheffield Wednesday game after just 24 minutes and cost him a place in the England Under-19 squad.

Meanwhile, Ipswich have allowed young defender James Krause to join League One side Carlisle United on loan for two months after he caught the eye during a trial spell at Brunton Park.

Krause has yet to make his senior debut for Town, although he was rewarded for a series of impressive reserve team performances with a place on the bench for the final match of last season at Plymouth.

Town have also extended the loans of Dean Bowditch and Martin Brittain, with Brighton and Yeovil respectively, until January.