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Wright to Return
Wright to Return
Monday, 1st Oct 2007 15:32

Full-back David Wright is expected to return to the Town side at Burnley on Tuesday as the Blues continue to chase their first away win of the season. Wright returns after an infected blister on a heel, while manager Jim Magilton has vowed to make other changes to his side.

Wright will come into the team in his usual right-back role and, while Town again shipped goals at the KC Stadium at the weekend, it looks like the midfield will be where Magilton switches his personnel. Aside from Wright taking over from Chris Casement, the defence is likely to be otherwise unchanged, although Shane Supple may be hoping for his first appearance of the season in goal.

The Town boss was left unhappy with his side's performance at Hull after getting off to a good start: "We were quick out of the blocks, were nice and bright and should have been ahead before they scored. We created other opportunities and if we had taken them it might have been a different story.

"There was plenty of bravado in the dressing room that we would get back in the game, but we didn't produce anything in the second half.

"Talk is cheap. We needed someone to go out there and grab the game by the scruff of the neck and make things happen, but there wasn't one player that did that. There will certainly be changes for the Burnley game on Tuesday night."

Those changes are expected to see last season's Player of the Year Sylvain Legwinski return to the side, perhaps in place of Gary Roberts, who was left out of the West Brom game to accommodate the Frenchman.

Then Magilton employed a 4-4-2 formation, however, at Plymouth in August, when Town won their only away point of the season, the Blues lined up in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 with Jon Walters and Alan Lee in wide often withdrawn roles. Magilton may return to that formation with Legwinski, Tommy Miller and Owen Garvan as the midfield trio.

Miller is another possible casualty of Magilton's cull after failing find the net since his return to Portman Road. Legwinski would be his obvious replacement in central midfield if the Blues are going to stick with 4-4-2. Canadian winger Jaime Peters may also fancy a recall in either of the wide positions.

Up front, Danny Haynes will also be itching for a start after a frustrating beginning to the season which saw him handed a three-match ban for a red card in the reserves. The 19-year-old is in Jim Magilton's thoughts with the combination of former Claret Alan Lee and Pablo Couñago having impressed more at home than away so far this season. Another option Magilton has is to switch Jon Walters from midfield.

Defender Richard Naylor and midfielder Gavin Williams remain the only senior squad members on the sidelines. Naylor is due to step up training after his summer toe operation, while Williams is out until at least November with ankle ligament damage.

Boss Jim Magilton has been continuing his search for loan cover, but is yet to have any success in bringing anyone in.

Town travelled to the North on Monday morning and will train at Barnsley once they arrive.

Burnley, currently in seventh in the table, have a home record of won one and drawn two so far this season.

Boss Steve Cotterill is currently waiting on defender Michael Duff, who injured his knee during Saturday's home draw with Crystal Palace: "It doesn't look a good one but we're just hoping it's not going to be a bad one.

"All in all we're probably going to have to wait a bit of time on this one. He's struggling at the moment. He went home on crutches but he'll need time and more than likely a scan."

Chris McCann, scorer of the only goal in the final minute of last season's corresponding fixture, is out with a hamstring strain. Former Town loanees David Unsworth and Alan Mahon are both current Clarets players.

Tuesday's referee is Colin Webster from Tyne and Wear, who has shown 18 yellow and no red cards in seven games so far this season. Webster's last Town game was the 0-0 draw at Stoke in January in which he booked Owen Garvan and George O'Callaghan.

Squad: Alexander, Bruce, Casement, Clarke, Couñago, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Peters, Roberts, Supple, T Miller, Walters, Wilnis, Wright.


Photo: Action Images



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