Loanee Gary Roberts will make his first home start since joining the Blues when Town face Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road. Roberts made his full debut in last week's last gasp 1-0 defeat at Burnley.

The prospective Welsh international has impressed since moving to Portman Road and is expected to sign permanently in January, the Blues having already handed Accrington Stanley a five-figure loan fee.

Jim Magilton is likely to revert to a four-man midfield against the Owls with Roberts probably playing wide on the right. Simon Walton is unavailable for one match having reached five bookings, so Mark Noble will join Sylvain Legwinski in the centre, with Matt Richards on the left. As at Burnley last week, Roberts and Richards could swap flanks as the game progresses.

Owen Garvan and Gavin Williams are not yet ready for returns to the first team squad after a virus and groin surgery respectively. Both could be back in contention in around three weeks, although Town are being especially cautious with Garvan's return so as not to trigger a relapse. Williams is due back in full training this week.

Academy product Sammy Moore could get a second first team run-out of the season as a sub, having impressed with an all-action display in midfield in the reserves on Monday.

Shane Supple will continue in goal with Lewis Price still out with his broken rib and Jaroslav Drobný will once again be on the bench. Magilton has indicated that the former Czech U21 international could be signed permanently having done well during his one-month short-term deal. Drobný is out of contract having settled his deal with Fulham in the summer.

Fabian Wilnis is back after his one-match ban and is likely to return at right-back. Richard Naylor will hope to keep him place after his most impressive performance of the season at Burnley, but could drop out with Alex Bruce rejoining Jason De Vos at centre-half.

Up front Alan Lee will want to add to the hat-trick he scored in the last home game, the 5-0 pasting of Luton Town. Danny Haynes will probably come into the side alongside the Irishman in the absence of Billy Clarke, although Jon Macken is back in the squad after his hamstring injury and is also in contention.

Magilton is hopeful that he might bring in another loan signing before Saturday's game - probably Reading defender John Halls - but is unlikely to field the new man against the Owls: "I am just waiting for a phone call and I am very hopeful but I don't think it would be fair on the player to throw him straight in.”

In addition to the defender, Tommy Miller is expected to join on loan from Sunderland at some point next week after Mark Noble has returned to West Ham at the end of his three-month loan spell. Town have indicated that the England U19 international could return in January, although a number of other Championship sides are also thought to be interested in loaning the midfielder.

Wednesday appointed former Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws as their new manager earlier in the week, caretaker Sean McAuley having taken 10 points from a possible 12 during his time in charge after Paul Sturrock's sacking.

Laws has already brought in Fulham keeper Mark Crossley on loan and the Wales international is expected to go straight into the side facing the Blues.

Wednesday's main injury concern is captain Graham Coughlan, who missed the Owls' victory against Leicester due to a hamstring injury.

Laws says he is not going to interfere too much with a side in good form: "We're not changing things just yet, we're just implementing little things. They have had a winning formula so I don't want to tinker too much, why do that when it's not broken?

"They have been doing the job really well and playing with confidence, so there will be no major changes in the side at all. It will be the same team that was involved in the last game, other than Mark Crossley, which has been forced upon us."

Laws has been impressed with what has seen of the Blues: "We have evaluated them with match reports and video analysis, they are a good side. Ipswich are a club steeped in tradition and have a theme in the way they play with attractive football.

“The supporters expect that and Ipswich have shown that if you let them play, they'll hurt you, as Luton found to their cost recently. But there are a couple of areas where you can hurt them which we can work on, although we must be aware of their threats."

Saturday's referee is Keith Stroud from Hampshire who has shown 32 yellow and two red cards in 12 games so far this season. Stroud's last Town game was the glorious 2-1 derby win over Norwich City at Carrow Road back in February.

Squad: Barron, Bruce, Currie, De Vos, Drobný, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Macken, Moore, Naylor, Noble, Peters, Richards, Roberts, Sito, Supple, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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