BLUES goalkeeper Brian Murphy has set his sights on being available for the FA Cup fourth round tie at Southampton on Saturday week.

Elvin King

BLUES goalkeeper Brian Murphy has set his sights on being available for the FA Cup fourth round tie at Southampton on Saturday week.

The former Bohemians player sustained ligament damage during the warm-up in Town's 1-1 draw in the Championship at Leicester on Sunday.

He was named as substitute and it was the first time he had been eligible to be involved with the Blues since signing an 18-month contract.

Scans have showed his ankle injury is not as bad as first feared with a partial tear of Murphy's right ankle ligament.

“I want to get back into training as soon as possible,” said Murphy today.

“And if all goes well, maybe I can make the Southampton game at the end of next week.

“My initial worry was that I was going to be out for seven or eight weeks.

“It was very sore and I was frustrated and disappointed obviously.

“I would have liked to have got a few games under my belt at least before getting injured!

“Thankfully the scans have shown the ankle is not too bad and I'm looking at being out for ten days or so, which is bad enough but a relief in a way.”

Murphy explained how he came to slip as he warmed up beside Arran Lee-Barrett at the Walkers Stadium.

He explained: “Connor Wickham was set to shoot, but pulled the ball back instead and as I tried to re-balance myself, my ankle went one way and my knee the other.”

Keane has decided not to delve into the loan market to provide temporary back-up for Lee-Barrett.

He is prepared to take the same gamble he did in December when he went the whole of the month with just 18-year-old raw rookie Ian McLoughlin as cover.

Keane said: “This puts us back in the same scenario as before Brian became available.

“We have Arran and young Ian (McLoughlin) and we will stay with that until Brian is back.

“We've been unlucky with keepers, but I did fear it could have been longer so we'll sit tight and wait for Brian to return.”

Summer midfield signing Colin Healy is on his way to Falkirk on loan for the remainder of the season with two or three younger players set to follow him away from Portman Road on a temporary basis.

A number of clubs showed an interest in Healy, who has a Town contract that runs to June 2011.

Keane has gone on record many times to say that his squad is too big, and the likes of Jack Ainsley (just returned from a loan at Rushden), Ed Upson (just recovered from a virus) and Reggie Lambe (just returned from playing for Bermuda at Under-21 level) are poised to join Liam Trotter, Tommy Smith and Healy in going out on loan.

Keane said: “This puts us back in the same scenario as before Brian became available.

“We have Arran and young Ian (McLoughlin) and we will stay with that until Brian is back.

“We've been unlucky with keepers, but I did fear it could have been longer so we'll sit tight and wait for Brian to return.”

Summer midfield signing Colin Healy is on his way to Falkirk on loan for the remainder of the season with two or three younger players set to follow him away from Portman Road on a temporary basis.

A number of clubs showed an interest in Healy, who has a Town contract that runs to June 2011.

Keane has gone on record many times to say that his squad is too big, and the likes of Jack Ainsley (just returned from a loan at Rushden), Ed Upson (just recovered from a virus) and Reggie Lambe (just returned from playing for Bermuda at Under-21 level) are poised to join Liam Trotter, Tommy Smith and Healy in going out on loan.