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Quinn Set to Make Town Debut
Quinn Set to Make Town Debut
Monday, 28th Jan 2008 12:18

Town boss Jim Magilton will hand a debut to new signing Alan Quinn when the Blues take on Plymouth Argyle at Portman Road on Tuesday. Magilton has confirmed that Quinn, who was signed from Sheffield United for £400,000 last week, will be in his starting line-up.

The Blues have injury concerns regarding Jon Walters and Billy Clarke with Magilton suggesting the latter is the bigger concern: "Billy turned his ankle in training yesterday and is doubtful for the Plymouth game.

"He will spend the day with the medical team and we will have another look at him from there.

"Jon has been receiving treatment for a thigh injury. He will do some training today and we will probably make a late call on him."

Town will definitely be without Liam Trotter and Sito, who are both suspended after their recent red cards. Trotter serves the final game of his ban, while the Spaniard misses his first.

Sito's absence will lead to a change in the Town defence with Dan Harding perhaps in line for a recall at left-back with David Wright switching flanks. Alternatively, new signing Alan Quinn could come in on the left or Fabian Wilnis or Chris Casement could be used on the right.

Neil Alexander will continue in goal with Jason De Vos and Alex Bruce at the centre of the defence.


If Quinn isn't used at left-back, the Magilton will have to decide whether to use his new signing on the left or in the centre of the midfield. If Jon Walters is fit, the Town manager will probably continue with the former Chester man on the left and Danny Haynes on the right, with Quinn joining Owen Garvan in the centre. If not, Quinn may be on the left with Tommy Miller in the middle alongside Garvan.

Up front, Pablo Couñago will start alongside Alan Lee. Burnley made an enquiry regarding the Irishman last week, but a move now looks unlikely with the player himself keen to remain at Portman Road and the Clarets now turning their attentions to Andy Cole, who is expected to sign on loan from Sunderland later today.

With Clarke likely to miss out, Jordan Rhodes, who scored six times for the reserves last week and once for the U18s on Saturday, will almost certainly be in the squad.

Tuesday's game gives Town fans a chance to check out target David Norris, who is expected to start in Paul Sturrock's midfield, perhaps ahead of a move to Portman Road before the transfer window closes on Thursday. During Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Portsmouth, Norris switched from his usual right midfield role into the centre in order to make way for new signing Chris Clark.

Pilgrims boss Paul Sturrock praised Norris's attitude during Saturday's game: "Chuck is a very professional man and he's appreciative of the situation. I would not expect anything less than 200% from him because that's what he gives you every week.

"I was very pleased with his attitude and he showed a commitment to the cause. He has been a valuable asset to the team in the past and, hopefully, he will be a valuable asset to the team in time to come."

Sturrock says his side is very much in development after a lot of comings and goings during January, but was pleased with their performance at Fratton Park: "We are in a transitional period as far as personnel going out the door and, hopefully, a lot of players will be coming in the door.

"At the same time, we have still got to win football games because we are in a good position in the league.

"If we were to perform like that on a regular occurrence for the next 10-11 weeks we could cause a lot of mayhem.

"But we have got a difficult game on Tuesday at Ipswich, who are a form side. We are going to have to try to take this performance into that game if we are going to get anything out of it."

Dutch defender Marcel Seip missed Saturday's game with a groin problem, while recent recruits Steven MacLean and Jamie Mackie are available again after being cup-tied. Hungarian midfielder Gyorgy Sandor, another January signing, was also left out of Saturday's side due to a knee injury.

The Blues have had the better of the Pilgrims over the years, winning 18 games between the two sides (17 in the league), drawing 12 (12) and winning 10 (10).

Earlier in the season, the teams drew 1-1 at Home Park with Alan Lee netting for Town and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, now with Wolves, scoring for the home side. The game also saw Fabian Wilnis receive his fourth red card for Town and bizarrely his third against Plymouth.

Tuesday's referee is Tony Bates from Staffordshire, who has shown 59 yellow and two red cards in 20 games so far this season. His last Town game was the 1-0 defeat at Cardiff in November.

Likely squad: Alexander, Supple, Wright, Harding, Wilnis, Casement, De Vos, Bruce, Naylor, Quinn, Garvan, Walters, Haynes, Miller, Legwinski, Peters, Lee, Couñago, Rhodes.


Photo: Action Images



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