Town manager Roy Keane will wait until tomorrow morning before picking his team for the home game against Derby with David Norris, Tom Eastman and Grant Leadbitter all doubts. The Blues boss is able to call on defenders Mark Kennedy and Darren O’Dea after injury.

Keane says he has players pushing for involvement if the doubtful trio miss out: “Tom Eastman, who has been doing very well for us, had to come off with a knock to his hip on Saturday. Grant Leadbitter’s got a problem with his hamstring and another couple of lads are carrying knocks.

“David Norris is a doubt for tomorrow night with his ankle injury. But we’ve other lads ready to come in, people like Andros Townsend, who has been training really well. Darren O’Dea’s had a few days training with us and then there’s Mark Kennedy, so we’ll be OK in terms of cover.”

Skipper Norris and defender Eastman, who has been playing at right-back in recent weeks, are rated at 50/50 and appear more significant concerns than Leadbitter.

Mark Kennedy is over his hamstring problem, while Darren O’Dea has made swift progress after his recent knee operation but Keane feels they may need a bit longer before making their first team returns: “I think if they were sitting here they’d say they were available for tomorrow night, but we’re training in the morning and I’ll make a late decision on that.

“My gut feeling is that I’d rather them have another few days’ training and get ready for Saturday, but it will be dictated by how lads like David Norris and Tom Eastman come through training in the morning and whether we have to mix the back four up a little bit.

“The players are off today, we did a recovery session yesterday and we’ll have a very light one tomorrow. We’ve no need to be rushed into a decision today, we’ll look at it tomorrow morning.”

Keane says no decision has yet been made on whether O'Dea will be fit enough to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly with Norway next week.

Alan Quinn has been joining in light training sessions as he recovers from the groin injury which has kept him out of action since pre-season, but the former Ireland international is still another couple of weeks away from contention.

Colin Healy has developed a groin problem on his way back from a hamstring injury but like Quinn - and probably O'Dea and Kennedy - could be involved in a behind closed doors reserves friendly with Norwich which has been arranged for next week.

Photo: Action Images

MVBlue added 13:20 - Nov 8 First! Need to win this one I work in Derby
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cobbold_fanatic added 13:34 - Nov 8 No doubt all three will make the game Keano's up to his mind games again!
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legoman added 13:34 - Nov 8 Would you mind abducting savage for us for about 48 hours please, then your wish will come true.
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Back_The_Boss added 13:38 - Nov 8 Tom Eastman had his best game in a Town shirt on saturday. Looked class at right back.
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Martus added 13:54 - Nov 8 We need Norris in this Derby game, he'll hastle the Derby midfielders which is needed as they have dominated the games in recent weeks. I dont think Colback is a LM, he doesnt have the width and attacking mind as Townsend, i would like Colback in the middle and see if we can get some creativity in there. So Keane if your reading . . . . . . . .
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whoppit added 13:59 - Nov 8 We will still win even with those players out.
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kerryblue added 14:02 - Nov 8 Will be good to have O'Dea back in contention always solid and has been missed at the back
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meekreech added 14:13 - Nov 8 Whoppit being positive his medication must be working at last , good to see ! Need to be strong over the next few games to keep the pressure on Cardiff & QPR to wait for their blips ! Will be good to see competition for places in the back 4 although they have been managing this season and not switching off at the back end of the match . Improvement there for all to see ( last year 15 games for 1 win , this year 15 games 7 wins ) so more support for the side and RK !

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bluelady added 14:19 - Nov 8 meekreech i am giving him personal counselling :-) The next area we are working on is a positive post about Prisken, but Whoppit is struggling with this area of the therapy!!
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whoppit added 14:19 - Nov 8 meekreech, we have done okay - not great but okay. In an ideal world we would have been in the top two since September and why not hope for that. I have decided (after talking with somebody) that I will be a little more positive and see how it goes until after the Budgie & WBA game. The jury is still out though but definitely too strong for Derby tomorrow. Okay, logging off now until December !!!!

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brian_a_mul added 14:24 - Nov 8 Our biggest weakness is our full backs. The spine of the team is very solid, long may it continue. Recently Keane likes to play a flat back 4 with center backs as full backs. We havent defended well recently against pacy wingers or block crosses (However Eastman seems to be improving at RB). Cywka and Commons (two tricky players) could have some success against our back line and we will have to keep them quite. The threat of giving penos also loom's over our back 4! Bueno (who is out) would have been a big danger for us. This is a big plus for Ipswich! Another issue could be our defensive outlook. I think Derby may play for a draw and if Ipswich get the first goal we may look to push back and defend inviting Derby on to us. And we dont want to invite Derby to attack us!!! If they get a scent of goal they will push us hard and knock a few in. The bench will be important for Town, we have great game changing options there if only Keane is brave enough to use them properly!! If we are in the lead with 20min to go I hope we can really go out and put the game away. (Peters, Livermore/Townsend* (if he doesnt start)/Lambe/Wickham/Murray are fast attacking players). *Wide left will be a big call. If Colback plays he will look to come into the middle and support midfielders limiting our attacking options out on the left. If he plays speed merchant Townsend we have a better chance to score goals/win frees/penos but Townsend exposes our LB, lets hope Kennedy starts. His experience will help Townsend on the left. Norris should start with Leadbitter (Hyam ready to fill in if required). I think the injuries and suspensions may cost Derby in this one. (Derby have in the past rested Savage for the away midweek games.) I'm going for a 1-0 for Ipswich

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whoppit added 14:42 - Nov 8 I think Priskin is gre... grea... Oh I can't do it Blue Lady !!!
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sonian_blue added 14:47 - Nov 8 Come on Legoman, do you really think we need to worry about Savage? 3-1 The super Blues.
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bluelady added 14:52 - Nov 8 whoppit one step at a time. how about I think Prisken is showing potential but the jury is still out at the moment. Much much better than Prisken is crap :-)
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whoppit added 14:55 - Nov 8 Bluelady, I will grudgingly give you that. Did I really say that??
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arc added 15:05 - Nov 8 Alan Quinn? Colin Healy? Good gracious. Are they still alive?
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legoman added 15:19 - Nov 8 I had great hopes for quinner.
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Garv added 15:22 - Nov 8 Quinn is actually a good player. If keane is going to continue to play a centre mid on the left then play a relatively attacking player behind him, peters will do, but I'd prefer if he just plays townsend he is our best player.
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Barhamblue added 15:40 - Nov 8 Time to give Connor a start ? maybe to give Scotland a rest. But who ever starts Keano will get it right! Get the new deal sorted ASAP Cleggy boy, were on a roll!
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Ipswich24 added 16:05 - Nov 8 The only change should be Townsend coming in he is a must running at defenders causing panic so our strikers have more of a chance i cant believe Keano is not picking him wont do us any favours of securing him permantly will it! But probably wont be interested because he is an attacking talent not a plodder!
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StowTractorBoy added 16:06 - Nov 8 I really hope Norris is fit as he is the engine in our midfield and buzzes here there and everywhere. If he does not play he will be missed and if that happens I would not be a bit surprised is Keano goes back to 4-1-4-1. Derby were electric on Saturday and if they play like that tomorrow our midfield of 4 could struggle. Paul Green of Derby was superb against Pompey and we will need to keep him quiet as with Commons. Keano has a dilemma both tactically and injury wise just hope he gets it right.

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Ipswich24 added 16:09 - Nov 8 Team Tommorow Fulop Peters Mcaulay Delaney Smith Edwards Leadbitter Norris Townsend Priskin Wickham Subs Murphy Livermore Eastman Scotland Colback Murray Kennedy
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Brooke_Satchwell added 16:48 - Nov 8 When it said Keane is waiting on Trio I assume this means three players and not the 80s band who made the record Da-Da-Da? Keano can be very confusing sometimes. Next week if he's waiting on Duran Duran I'll know it probably was the band called Trio... By the way... Q: which Man Utd player sometimes turns into a werewolf? A: Rio Furry-hand
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foster added 17:29 - Nov 8 not to worried about norris personly think livermore better player quite a bit worried about leadbitter he kinder holds the team together eastmen well hes a alright player but weve got cover my team for tuesday would be fulop peters,mcauley,delaney,smith townsend,livermore,leadbitter,colback wickham,priskin bench brown,kennedy,hyam,norris,murray,scotland i would only put scotland on bench because hes looked tied reasonly and because wickham deserves a chance

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foster added 17:32 - Nov 8 achelly i would put edwards on bench not hyam
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