Town will again be without skipper Jon Walters and new goalkeeper Brian Murphy when they visit Preston on Saturday afternoon. Walters is out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring problem, while Murphy is still a week away from a return after injuring his ankle in the warm-up at Leicester.

Boss Roy Keane is unlikely to make too many changes to his side after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom.

Arran Lee-Barrett will keep his place in goal with Liam Rosenior at right-back and Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley at the heart of the defence.

Keane could choose to make a switch at left-back with David Wright OK after picking up a slight knock against the Baggies, although his replacement with Pim Balkestein was a more tactical move to combat the aerial presence of Ishmael Miller.

The Dutchman is less likely to get a start at left-back than Jaime Peters, who had done well in that role before being switched to the right midfield position on Tuesday. Keane may again choose to use the Canadian in that position and use Wright at left-back.

The Blues boss has also hinted that youngster Shane O'Connor is impressing him at left-back in the reserves having recently returned from a knee ligament injury.

In midfield, Jack Colback had a quiet game against West Brom and may be rested, allowing Owen Garvan to come into the side. Grant Leadbitter and David Norris are likely to continue in the centre with Peters on the right.

Up front, Keane was pleased with the Jon Stead-Pablo Couñago combination against the Baggies, although he was also impressed by Tamás Priskin’s performance from the bench. The match is Stern John’s last before his loan expires, with the Blues undecided whether to extend his spell. Connor Wickham is set to be involved with the U18s.

Keane says the midweek performance was an improvement on the FA Cup display at Southampton last Saturday: “I think we did a lot better the other night. Obviously we still only drew the game but in terms of the effort, the desire and the spirit of the players it was fantastic.

“We have to continue that. I think that with the players we have, and also myself, we have to be at it 100%, 95% won’t do us and I think that was where we were last weekend.

“I think I’m very lucky with the group of players I have. I thought they were outstanding, absolutely brilliant the other night and on another day we might have won it, but hopefully we’ll do that tomorrow.”

Preston skipper Callum Davidson has a head injury and manager Darren Ferguson, a one-time team-mate of Roy Keane’s at Manchester United, says he will definitely miss out: "He was knocked out so it's a mandatory 10 days that he will have to miss."

Ferguson has made the most of his Manchester United link by bringing in Danny Welbeck on loan and the striker is likely to make his debut against the Blues.

Winger Paul Parry is out with a knee injury, while midfielder Barry Nicholson has a broken leg.

Preston currently sit in 14th place in the Championship, three points ahead of Town in 18th. The Lilywhites’ home record stands at won four, drawn five and lost two.

Town, who have been defeated only once in their last 15 league games, have a poor record against Preston historically, winning eight games (seven in the league), drawing seven (seven) and losing 10 (nine).

Earlier in the season the game at Portman Road ended 1-1 with Ross Wallace — who played under Keane at Sunderland - netting for the Lilywhites and Jon Walters for the Blues. Callum Davidson was sent off just before the break.

At Deepdale in February, North End were again victorious, Davidson (pen), Jon Parkin and Stephen Elliott netting for the home side and Tommy Miller getting his usual couple of goals against his former loan club.

Midfielder Veliche Shumulikoski joined Preston from Town in the summer for a fee of around £400,000 and is the only current Lilywhite to have represented the Blues. The Macedonian hasn’t started a game since early November and has made only the occasional sub appearances since.

Tamás Priskin spent March and early April 2008 on loan at Deepdale when a Watford player, scoring two goals in four starts and one sub appearance.

Saturday’s referee is Jonathan Moss from West Yorkshire, who has shown 76 yellow and six red cards in 23 games so far this season. His last Town game was the 2-2 home draw with Swansea last season in which he yellow-carded Ivan Campo, Jon Stead, Richard Naylor and two Swans players.

Squad from: Lee-Barrett, McLoughlin, Rosenior, D Wright, Peters, O'Connor, Delaney, McAuley, Balkestein, Bruce, Leadbitter, Norris, Garvan, Colback, Quinn, Edwards, Martin, Stead, Couñago, Priskin, John.

Photo: Action Images

terry added 14:06 - Jan 29 Walters, big miss. Get Ray Slegg in in his place.
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arc added 14:10 - Jan 29 Am I the only person who is starting to get worried by the constant theme from Keane at the moment?--"I didn't do my job either," "I have to do better," "I need to be at 100%." Keane is the kind of person who could persuade himself that he is not doing his job 100% and quit as a result. If he decides his heart isn't quite in it, then he'll go overnight.
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Vic added 14:27 - Jan 29 Yes arc, I think you may be! I think he just can't help calling it as he sees it, and that includes his analysis of the job he's doing. He's almost too open and honest for his own good!
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welshtractorboy added 15:12 - Jan 29 14.41 Leeds United have signed Birmingham City forward Gary McSheffrey on loan for the remainder of the season.---Would have done a god job for us on the left,never mind Ambrose!!! would be cheaper option. Lots going on in transfer market,free loans etc,nothing on Ipswich,do think Keane will have something before Monday 17.00hrs Still would have prefered if we have got anyone coming in,before then. The games are getting less and less the points will be harder to get,we need draws turning into wins as from tomorrow,come on Town

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Eireannach_gorm added 15:24 - Jan 29 Interesting to see Veliche Shumulikoski not getting a place on the team. Seems hes not as good as he thought he was.
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jabberjackson added 16:00 - Jan 29 for goodness sake, can we not analyse and over anlayse everything Keano says in such a negastive way...his honesty is refreshing and i for one like to see his self criticism - at least when he has a pop at the players they can see his integrity shining through. he hasn't even been at this club any where near a year - and we are making good, if not spectacular, progress... let's get behind the team, just as Evans and Clegg are getting behind RK, and we will be in the top ten by mid March, yo see if i'm not right...

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legoman added 16:02 - Jan 29 Ime glad he is persevering with pab and tamas. I can see goals flowing very soon.
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Surco72 added 16:25 - Jan 29 I still do not understand this making progress ? If anyone came into any job and was really, really poor then anything would indeed be progress as you cannot get lower than bottom ,but surely we have too judge on the position he took over the club not the position he took us to ? He has spent a fair amount of money ,which may be why Mr Evans is not willing to spend more in January (who Knows,we will see)? and so far IMO we are underperforming ,as every manager we play against keeps telling us" with our squad we shouldnt be in that position" so why are we ? Leadbitter great asset to the club ,well done Roy ,Delaney proving Ok ,Healy,Martin,Trotter,Bruce and Priskin struggling and Rosenoir and Colback good but not signed . The unrest seems to have gone with Garvan,Mac and Stead now off the transfer list and back playing well so we will see what happens the rest of the season and then compare as a whole season rather than a few games here and there

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legoman added 16:32 - Jan 29 Surco, progress comes in steps following the demolition of the old club set up. Talking about progress steps is more interesting that being dumb struck until the end of the season. Ime loving this season. Its one of the most interesting seasons I have ever witnessed. And I have witnessed a lot.
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RRanger added 16:39 - Jan 29 Well said legoman.I too am thoroughly enjoying this season.I think RK is here for the long term - by all accounts he and his family are happily settled in the county.I think we will make the top 10 and then press on next season.
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bedsitfc added 16:49 - Jan 29 keane blames himself only to take the pressure off his players, because if he blamed them they could lose the little confidence they have
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bedsitfc added 16:49 - Jan 29 really hope he starts with priskin and steady up front!!!!
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legoman added 16:59 - Jan 29 So do I bedsit. Because then he could sub stead with pabs later.
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PaulMariner added 17:21 - Jan 29 Keane V's fergie mmmmmmm
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Killieblue added 18:09 - Jan 29 Agree with Priskin / Stead hopefully Priskin will continue where he left off on Tuesday
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marcoitfc added 18:23 - Jan 29 Am i only one that is getting a bit fed up by our seeming inability to sign any decent players? Is this to do with our wages, league position or our manager?? Good players are being loaned out such as Welbeck, the striker at Watford on loan from Arsenal and McSheffrey amongst others. Whenever there is competition we seem to miss out and end up paying over the odds for players like Priskin and Edwards, or end up with waste of space signings such as Martin, John and Healy. Our transfer record is terrible and explains where we are now. I hate to harp on by why did we let Rhodes go without even giving him a chance and Ambrose would have loved to have signed for us.

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thebeat added 18:32 - Jan 29 Why are people saying Priskin should start, the equaliser on Tuesday was down to him not even trying to keep the ball in the corner, then WBA broke away and scored, he didnt even try, he's a total wate of air
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NorwichBlue138 added 19:32 - Jan 29 on a separate note, gary mcsheffrey has gone on loan to leeds - why can't Keano attract people like this - surely it is common knowledge within footballing circles who is leaving which clubs on loan?!
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Skip73 added 21:48 - Jan 29 I think it maybe the name 'Leeds' that attracted McSheffrey, they could be in the Conference and still be attractive to some players.
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Skip73 added 21:53 - Jan 29 P.s does anyone else realise that tomorrow's game is the first in a run of 5 away games in 6. I hope we start picking up our away form or we could be in deep do do. I'm going for a 1-1 tomorrow by the way.
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ipswich_ash added 23:46 - Jan 29 Hope he gives priskin a go, although can't see him starting. Interestng about O'connor at LB an option no one has saw coming, but really looking forwad to last couple of days of window!
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bennyblue added 06:17 - Jan 30 i suppose if we cant sign a decent manager we have no hope of getting decent players. thats the season in a nutshell really if we got a good manager the players would follow.
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corshamblue added 12:34 - Jan 30 1-3 - COYB. Priskin & Steady both in the Goals with Chuck chipping in with the 3rd. Preston have been reinforced with loan signing from 'Daddy' so the Defence will have to be sharp. On a separate note: Where are all the G McAuley out posts now? muppets!
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bubblesblue79 added 16:09 - Jan 30 priskin is totally s*@t
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