Boss Jim Magilton has hinted that he may make one or two changes when the Blues take on Barnsley at Portman Road on Saturday. The Town manager may recall Gavin Williams into the starting line-up, the Welshman having been rested against Southampton on Tuesday.

Magilton has no new injury problems aside from a dead leg suffered by skipper Jason De Vos when he collided with Neil Alexander in the closing stages of Tuesday's game, but he expects the Canadian to be fine: “Jason De Vos took a slight knock on Tuesday but will be OK.”

Only Richard Naylor remains on the sidelines as he recovers from a slipped disc and Town's longest-serving player has been told that rest will cure the problem.

Despite the relatively clean bill of health, Magilton says he could switch one or two of his players: “With eight games in December I may make a change or two to keep players fresh.”

Williams, just back from three months out with ankle ligament damage, looks likely to move into the centre of midfield with Owen Garvan, who has looked a touch jaded in the last couple of games, perhaps dropping out.

Tommy Miller will probably start ahead of Sylvain Legwinski, with youngsters Liam Trotter and Ed Upson also pushing for first team involvement after impressive displays in the reserves in the week.

The Blues have options on the left of midfield with Danny Haynes and Gary Roberts pushing for starts, but Billy Clarke was impressive against Southampton and will probably keep his place. Jon Walters put in another fine display against the Saints and is now an established fixture on the right of midfield.

Town have few options at the back with Dan Harding likely to continue on the left, David Wright on the right and Jason De Vos and Alex Bruce in the centre.

Up front, Pablo Couñago continues to impress at home and is likely to partner Alan Lee, with Danny Haynes playing some part after the break.

The Tykes have winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who impressed the Portman Road crowd when with Rotherham a few years back, and Brian Howard suspended, while Rob Kozluk and Bobby Hassell are both injured.

Barnsley boss Simon Davey is out to end Town's fine run of home form: "We have a difficult month coming up and it will be a tough time. Ipswich have an excellent home record and have won 12 matches on the bounce there. We want to make it an unlucky 13 for them. It will not be easy though but all runs have to come to an end.

"We have a strong squad here and there are players kicking their heels in the stands who are desperate to be in the team. We will be without two players this weekend and it is up to someone else to come in and grasp their opportunity.

"We lost heavily at Ipswich last season and we want to rectify that. That result kick-started our season and we went on to win three on the bounce. We are a better squad this season.”

Barnsley recently signed former Town loanee Jon Macken on a short-term basis from Derby, while Jon Walters had a spell on loan at Oakwell from late 2003 to early 2004 when a Bolton player and Richard Naylor had a month with the South Yorkshiremen in 2002.

Full-back Marciano Bruma, who had a trial spell with the Blues before joining Barnsley in the summer, is Town defender Fabian Wilnis's cousin.

Blues keeper-coach Andy Rhodes was previously in a similar role at Oakwell - and was on their bench during the 2000 play-off final - and also started his career with the Tykes. His son Jordan was an academy schoolboy at Barnsley during Simon Davey's time as a youth coach prior to his elevation to the first team manager's job.

Town have an impressive record against the Tykes, defeating them 16 times (15 in the league), drawing three (three) matches, while the South Yorkshire side have come out on top on 10 occasions (eight).

Last season the Blues smashed Barnsley 5-1 at Portman Road via goals from Gary Roberts, George O'Callaghan, Danny Haynes, Franny Jeffers and Jon Walters, with Daniel Nardiello netting for the visitors. At Oakwell earlier in the season Grant McCann lashed in the game's only goal in the final minute.

The Blues, who have won their last 12 home games, are closing in on the 14-game longest run of consecutive home league victories set in 1956/57 and the all competitions home wins record set in 1980/81.

Saturday's referee is Andy Penn from the West Midlands, who has shown 29 yellow and two red cards in 16 games so far this season. Penn's last Town game was back in September 2003 when the Blues defeated Wimbledon 4-1 at Portman Road with the goals coming from Alun Armstrong, Richard Naylor, Darren Bent and Pablo Couñago. Penn yellow-carded Chris Bart-Williams, Alan Mahon, Richard Naylor and the Dons' Adam Nowland during that game.

Probable squad: Alexander, Bruce, Clarke, Couñago, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Miller, Roberts, Supple, Trotter, Walters, Williams, Wilnis and Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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