David McGoldrick will be unavailable for Ipswich's home npower Championship clash against second-placed Hull.
The striker saw his 93-day loan deal at Portman Road expire after last weekend's dramatic 1-0 victory at Derby, meaning he is unable to play any part in Town's final five matches of the campaign.
McGoldrick did, however, join Ipswich with a view to a permanent switch in the summer, a move which is still set to go ahead should the Suffolk club retain their Championship status, and he continues to train with Mick McCarthy's side.
McCarthy will hope to welcome back Lee Martin after the winger missed out against Derby due to illness.
Midfielder Anthony Wordsworth is targeting a first-team return after making his comeback from three cracked vertebrae for the club's development side earlier this week, although the encounter against Hull may come too soon.
Hull defender Jack Hobbs is poised for a surprise return to action and striker Matty Fryatt could be included in the squad for the first time since August.
Tigers boss Steve Bruce feared Hobbs had been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining an ankle injury in the recent home defeat to Watford, but he has responded well to treatment and is hoping to feature.
Fryatt has been sidelined for eight months with an Achilles injury and having returned to full training is expected to play a cameo role.
The return of Hobbs and Fryatt would be a timely boost for Bruce, who will be without Egyptian striker Gedo, who aggravated a foot injury in training, and defender Alex Bruce, who appears to have played his last game of the season after rupturing his Achilles during last weekend's win over Middlesbrough.
The Tigers, three points clear of nearest rivals Watford in the race for the second automatic promotion spot, are chasing a third straight away win.
Hodgson believes the lucrative nature of club football means teams no longer want to risk sending players on international duty, but Mancini thinks this would not happen if players were given time to rest.
The Italian said: "I think that in England you need to have a break in December for the national team because we play a lot of games.
"The moment that they decide to give players one week off in December it will be good for the teams and national team."
While Hodgson also expressed his concern that City and Chelsea are travelling to the United States after their domestic seasons end in May, Mancini is worried about the workload of his players - many of whom will have to report for international duty on their return.
"It is incredible. These players don't have the time to recover very well," he said.
"When we finish the championship, we go for one week in New York and after they come back there are some players that play in the Confederations Cup and qualification for World Cup.
"I think that is incredible."
