Town will be without the suspended Grant Leadbitter and Jon Walters when they face Scunthorpe at Glanford Park on Saturday. The duo picked up their fifth bookings of the season in last week’s 3-1 home victory over Blackpool.

Keane says their absence gives one or two other members of his squad a chance to win themselves a place in the team: “They are important players but it gives other players an opportunity to stake a claim. We saw that last week. We brought Jaime back in and Jack, and both of them did very, very well for us.

“The two lads were on four yellow cards for a number of weeks, so it was only a matter of time before they got to suspensions and they come tomorrow and, as I say, it gives the other players an opportunity to stake a claim to be in the starting XI the following week.”

The Blues boss is unlikely to change his backline with the solidity of David Wright, Liam Rosenior, Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley having been the base on which Town’s recent improvement has been built. Alex Bruce is still sidelined with his groin injury.

Arran Lee-Barrett will continue in goal with Richard Wright out for four months with knee ligament damage and Brian Murphy unable to play until the transfer window opens in January.

Peters and Colback look set to keep their places in midfield with Alan Quinn perhaps the favourite to join the Sunderland loanee in the centre in place of Leadbitter. Owen Garvan looks likely to continue on the left with Carlos Edwards coming off the bench at some stage. Colin Healy may also be amongst the subs having impressed Keane in the midweek reserves friendly, but David Norris is not yet ready to return to the squad.

Up front, Jon Stead is likely to continue with Stern John perhaps the favourite to partner him with two of Pablo Couñago, Tamás Priskin and Connor Wickham on the bench.

Keane, who has not yet decided who will skipper the team in Walters's absence, says that his side now need to make winning matches a regular event: “We won a game last week, lots of football teams win football matches, but the good teams keep winning and that’s what we have to do.

“We know it’s not going to be easy tomorrow, particularly in the Championship, away from home and with Scunthorpe’s home record, but we’re in good shape, we’re missing a few players through suspension, but we’re ready.”

Keane says the squad were able to train this morning despite the weather with only one unnamed player, almost certainly Ben Thatcher, arriving late: "We’re lucky, we still got to train as we’ve got an indoor facility. We trained well and we’re looking forward to the game.

“There was one player who was four hours late, but if you travel from London that’s to be expected.”

Scunthorpe sit in 18th place in the table with a home record of won five, drawn two and lost three. They have goalkeeper Joe Murphy back from a one-match ban.

Veteran defender Cliff Byrne picked up a hamstring injury last week but is expected to recover in time for Saturday’s game.

Midfielder Martyn Woolford is back in contention after a foot injury, while Michael O'Connor is also pressing for a start after overcoming a dead leg.

Striker Ben May (ankle) and defender Kenny Milne (knee) are both long-term absentees.

Iron manager Nigel Adkins says his scouts have been impressed with what they have seen of Town: "It will be a very tough game. We've had them watched. Our chief scout Lee Turnbull has been to see them and has come back with glowing reports about them.

"They didn't expect to be in the lower echelons of the division this season and they've turned it around now.

"They're a big side, they've got unity and are on a good unbeaten run at this moment in time.

"I wouldn't be surprised if come the end of the season you didn't see Ipswich around the play-off area.

"They've got Roy Keane in charge, he sets high standards and demands a lot from his players. They are aspects we're trying to emulate at our football club.

"What we've got to try and do is be prepared to face a team on Saturday who expect to be around the play-off area.

"They expect to be challenging for automatic promotion, they've got a big name manager and have a great support base and history.

"We know it will be very tough for us. They know that we make it difficult for teams at Glanford Park as well."

Scunthorpe have only beaten the Blues once in history, a 4-0 win at the Old Showground back in Town’s 1960/61 Second Division championship season. The Blues have won seven (five in the league) and drawn two (two).

The sides last met two years ago in Scunthorpe’s relegation season, Town doing the double over Nigel Adkins’s men. At Portman Road, goals from Pablo Couñago, Owen Garvan and Tommy Miller gave the Blues a 3-2 win with Martin Paterson scoring both goals for the visitors.

Later in the season at Glanford Park, Couñago and fellow Spaniard Sito, netting his only Town goal, saw the Blues to a 2-1 win with Ben May scoring for the home side in the final minute. Couñago and Jack Cork, on loan with Scunthorpe from Chelsea, were both red-carded in the second half after a scuffle.

No member of the current Scunthorpe squad has played for the Blues, while Liam Trotter spent time on loan at Glanford Park last season and came on as a sub in their play-off final victory over Millwall. The Lincolnshire side offered the Ipswich-born midfielder, who made five starts and nine sub appearances with them, scoring one goal, a contract in the summer but he decided to remain at Portman Road.

Jon Walters was also a loanee with the Iron, in 2005 when a Hull City player, making three appearances but failing to score.

Scunthorpe are confident the game will go ahead unless overnight temperatures plummet.

Saturday’s referee is Andy Haines from Tyne and Wear, who has shown 43 yellow and four red cards in 16 games so far this season. Haines has never previously taken control of a Town match. Scunthorpe fans will fondly remember his last visit to Glanford Park in September 2008 when Gary Hooper scored two last minute goals to take them to a 2-1 victory over Notts County.

Squad from: Lee-Barrett, McLoughlin, D Wright, Rosenior, Delaney, McAuley, Smith, Colback, Quinn, Healy, Trotter, Garvan, Peters, Edwards, Martin, Stead, John, Couñago, Priskin, Wickham.

Photo: Action Images

keeperbimbo09 added 16:21 - Dec 18 Damn! thats a big blow! walters maybe not as much - he can be replaced. but leadbitter! he has been our best player by far this season, he controls the midfield, gets back and defends well, and attacks well as well ( one of the only players on our team who shoots from range ). With him not availiable i would like to see garvan and colback playing centre mid : Lee Barrett Rosinior McAuley Delany Wright Peters Garvan Colback Edwards Stead John That is what i would play! Good Luck lads! COYB!!!! Up Up UP

0

FormerlyCGS added 16:23 - Dec 18 CMON TOWN They are good at home but I can see a 2-0 win
0

dreblue added 16:46 - Dec 18 I think it's about time the likes of Edwards, John/Counago (depending who he chooses to play up front with Stead) start showing their value and man up tomorrow. There is NO point been negative and start worrying about Leadbitter and Walters not playing tomorrow. I would rather they didnt play tomoro and have them missing against Palace away and QPR at home. These are the sort of games and situation which we need to rely on our squad. I would play Edwards, Garvan, Colback and Peters tomorow. With no walters we need to keep the ball on the ground. Hence why i would play Counago and Stead up front. Lee Barrett Rosenior McCauley Delany Wright Edwards Colback Garvan Peters Counago Stead COYB!!!!!!!! LETS GET BEHIND THEM............ BLUE ARMY!!

0

brockleyblueboy added 16:47 - Dec 18 Good luck town, fingers crossed, keep the tempo up and I will have a quid with anyone for a 4-2 town win.
0

Dowson added 16:49 - Dec 18 uh-oh no worrys bout walters he can be easily changed unlike leadbitter hes a great player and a 1 of a kind he leads the team and in my opinion should be captin !!
0

muhrensleftfoot added 16:50 - Dec 18 Leadbitter is a big miss for us. His tenacious tackling in midfield is also one of the reasons why our defense looks better. I hope he puts Quinn in as a direct replacement, and leaves Garvan out wide left. Stern John in for Walters up front.
0

BlueBoots added 16:50 - Dec 18 My teamsheet for tomorrow - I'm guessing there's one name I've included that will be unpopular, but he'll know the opposition better than most... ----------------Lee-Barrett--------------- Rosenior - McAuley - Delaney - Wright -------------------Trotter----------------- -------------Colback - Garvan----------- Edwards---------------------------Peters --------------------Stead-----------------

0

dreblue added 17:03 - Dec 18 BlueBoots..... all i can say to your formation is... "Have you ever seen town when Stead is upfront on his own?" That formation would only work if we want a draw! Yea Stead is scoring atm (touch wood) but him upfront on his own is AWFUL!!!!! I wouldnt play Trotter. Him knowing the team doesnt mean he can stop them. We should know the team already through our scouts. Counago behind Stead and drop Trotter, then I would agree with your starting line up! :-) COYB!!!!

0

BlueBoots added 17:20 - Dec 18 dreblue..... all i can say to your formation is... "Have you ever seen Counago away from Portman Road?" Spends most of the time on his backside ;^D Despite Garvan's new-found workrate, I wouldn't be happy with just him and Colback in the middle away from home - I'd prefer to play Trotter sitting deep and give Garvan and Colback the license to get further forward to hopefully create / score. And with Peters / Edwards out wide, I don't think Stead would be as isolated playing that role as he has been in the past...

0

bedsitfc added 17:29 - Dec 18 i hope priskin gets another chance, as soon as he gets going he will score plenty for us
0

swinger added 17:56 - Dec 18 "I wouldn't be surprised if come the end of the season you didn't see Ipswich around the play-off area". Was this his attempt at a compliment? I bet his missus loves him - "babe, I wouldn't be surprised if come the end of the night nobody has complimented you on how you look". With regards the game, I hope whoever suggested Trotter is on a wind up? He is a million miles off being good enough at this level. I would go same back 5, midfield 4 of Quinn, Garvan, Colback and Edwards with Stead and Wickham upfront. We need battlers in this sort of game. I think Pablo/Peters/Priskin et al are too luxury for such a match. Either way, in Keane we trust. COYB.

0

keeperbimbo09 added 17:57 - Dec 18 i totally agree with dreblue. however i would keep stern john upfront and put pablo on the bench - i agree with blueboots - he cant play away from home. plus not a bad shout about playing trotter as he knows the opposition but i wouldnt play him coz he is rubbish
0

Back_The_Boss added 18:12 - Dec 18 Leadbitter will be a big miss, great player for us in midfield. COYB!
0

ChambersM added 19:29 - Dec 18 Lee Barrett Rosenior McCauley Delany Wright Edwards Colback Garvan Peters Counago Stead TOTALLY AGREE!!
0

reusersfreekicks added 19:41 - Dec 18 I don't think we can get away with a central midfield of garvan and Colback in this match. I suspect Quinn will play in the middle with Garvan on the left. Also I do not believe this Counago can't play away from home myth, at Palce last season he worked his socks off and had a stormer. Stead is everyone's star at the moment but we know that when he's poor, he's very very poor.

0

keeperbimbo09 added 19:46 - Dec 18 reasersfreekicks, stead is not a poor player. at times yes, he is aweful, but he has a great mind and knows what to do wen he has the ball. defo play him in the starting line up, he is getting better and better. A shame that the same cant be said about priskin...
0

slowerball added 20:13 - Dec 18 Colback & Garvan I would think... However, I would strongly suggest that Healy - who has been putting in a good shift in both reserves and training - will see some of the game. He'll be in the shop window (for Hartlepool on loan in Jan) but with no Norris, Leadbitter and Walters - he should get his chance. Otherwise (ignoring the rightful / wrongful allegations about his signing being a charitable giving to Cork) why buy him and not play him? I would certainly prefer a look at Healy than play Martin in the 1st XI.

0

Fatcatevans added 20:57 - Dec 18 Why all the clamour for Edwards inclusion. So far this season he has contributed zilch unless you call slagging off the team in the press a contribution. Oh i forgot they all all his mates now after a wonderful xmas party.
0

TheBlueStig added 21:43 - Dec 18 Lee-Barrett Rosenior McAuley Delaney D.Wright Peters Garven Colback Edwards Stead Counago
0

BlueJoe added 23:01 - Dec 18 hmmmmm 9-0 to ipswich or 9-1 because we feel bad
0

UEFA81 added 23:51 - Dec 18 2:1 to the Iron. Sorry, that's what I reckon. My realism amazes me.
0

Doctor_Albran added 01:00 - Dec 19 Leadbitter and Walters will be big misses but like all true town fans I still think we can get a win - won't be easy though.
0

Skip73 added 01:05 - Dec 19 Ah UEFA; The only person who's commented on here who thinks we'll lose. What a surprise, you muppet. Anyway I'm going for a 1-0 win with Stead getting the winner (if the game goes ahead of course, which we all hope it does, apart from UEFA probably)
0

biffo added 09:17 - Dec 20 i thinked we might lose aswell but snow sorted thsat
0

biffo added 09:26 - Dec 20 i thinked we might lose aswell but snow sorted thsat
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls