Former Blues striker Jon Stead is expected start for Bristol City against Town at Portman Road on Saturday having recovered from a groin injury. The Robins, who are currently fourth from bottom, will be looking to close the five-point gap between them and the Blues.

The 29-year-old, who came on as a sub in a 2-0 home defeat to another of his old clubs Derby last week after a month out, told ThisisBristol that the Christmas games could be pivotal for his side: "It's a hugely important period for us and Ipswich is a massive game.

"We're under no illusions as to where we can be and where we don't want to be at the end of the festive period.

"Obviously, you want the gap to be as small as possible and the last thing you need is to be losing sight of the teams immediately above you.

"It's about keeping all those clubs around you as close as you can. If you do that, then a win can take you up two or three places rather than just closing a gap.”

Stead, who was with the Blues between September 2008 and August 2010, scoring 20 goals in 42 starts and 25 sub appearances, is expected to come into the XI for Ryan Taylor, who is set to miss out with a hamstring injury.

Also likely to start is Republic of Ireland international left-back Greg Cunningham, who is over an ankle ligament problem and also came on as a sub against Derby.

Midfielder Cole Skuse is back in contention after a broken cheekbone and central defenders Louis Carey and Lewin Nyatanga are also available again having been sidelined with calf and hernia problems respectively.

On-loan Liverpool defender Danny Wilson is not expected to travel having suffered a hamstring injury.

Photo: Action Images

Garv added 22:35 - Dec 20 Remember him hitting great form, getting sent off extremely harshly at Palace(?), then Keane thinking it would be a great idea to send him out on loan to Coventry in January, and of course selling for peanuts to Bristol in the summer.
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Garv added 00:02 - Dec 21 No world beater, but a decent honest player capable of chipping in with goals.
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UpperthongBlue added 08:36 - Dec 21 Jon added good support to the Huw Thatcher Trust 'Sportman's Dinner' in Hudds earlier in the year - much appreciated by the locals.
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JR_ITFC added 09:32 - Dec 21 WHAT A LAD
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theblueginger added 10:32 - Dec 21 I love how everyone NOW says he was a good player. Admit that many of you thought he was useless. I for one always said he was decent. His effort was 100% and he scored some good goals, he just wasn't the target-man-type player some people seemed to think he was.
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