Ipswich Town manager Gary O’Neil revealed that midfielder Sasa Lukic was close to being involved in yesterday’s game at Hull City – and he expects the Serbian international to return next week against Bournemouth.

Lukic has missed three games with a groin injury, having started every Premier League match prior to that.

“We could have brought him probably,” O’Neil reflected. “It was a discussion yesterday around whether we push him for the bench. If he hadn’t been out so long, we probably would have, because his groin’s feeling fine now.

“We just felt it was better for him to get his work in. He’ll join the group on Monday for full training, and that gives him a full run-up into Bournemouth (next Sunday), whereas he probably hasn’t done quite enough with the group to put him back in.

“But he is feeling good, he worked really hard on the grass yesterday. I received a message a while ago saying he had a good day again on the grass today.

“I am aware that I’ve said this for the last three weeks, but we will see Sasa at the weekend. Obviously, anything can happen, he could suffer a setback or a new injury, but all being well.

“If the game was on Monday, Sasa would have played a part, so we expect to see him next weekend.”