Town are set to name a same-again back four for the 26th successive league game against Doncaster on Saturday after left-back Aaron Cresswell today dispelled fears that he may have had to sit out the clash.

Cresswell, 24, missed the last half-hour of Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Huddersfield, Tyrone Mings taking over, but has confirmed he will be in his usual place at Portman Road this weekend after recovering from a groin problem.

He said: “It’s all right. It was more or less the same thing that I had pre-season and I didn’t want to make anything worse. It was more of a precautionary thing to come off and I was in the next day. I’ve had ice on it today and it feels a lot better, so I should be okay.”

Cresswell also took the opportunity to praise deputy Mings, adding: “He’s been waiting all season and every time he’s come in he’s done very well. If I’m injured it’s not a problem with him going in.”

Town are level with Brighton and Bournemouth, sitting between them in eighth on goal difference, two points adrift of sixth-placed Reading, with only five games left to play in the current campaign.

Helping to seal a play-off finish, with the prospect of a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002, would cap what has already been a memorable season for Cresswell.

The Scouser has only failed to start seven of Town’s 141 games since he arrived from Tranmere almost three years ago, his absences only down to injury and suspension.

He is also alongside Town nemesis David Nugent of Leicester and Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid as the joint leader when it comes to Championship assists — the trio are all on 13 — and he recently finished ninth in a list of the best players in the division compiled after managers had all submitted their votes.

Meanwhile, Wigan are reported to be keen to send former Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe back to Fulham early from his current loan spell at the DW Stadium.

Latics boss Uwe Rosler is said to be unhappy with the 21-year-old after he reacted angrily to being substituted and with his attitude in training.

Current Cottagers manager Felix Magath is understood to have said he won’t take Tunnicliffe back until next week and has reportedly already told the player, who only joined Fulham from Manchester United in January, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal, that he can leave in the summer, Magath's predecessor Rene Meulensteen having signed him.

If Tunnicliffe is available in the close season Town boss Mick McCarthy may well be interested in bringing him back to Portman Road — he tried to re-sign him on loan prior to his move to Wigan — but the player’s Premier League wages are likely to prove a stumbling block.

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 15:00 - Apr 10 Great news. Mings must be gutted
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gazzmac4 added 15:22 - Apr 10 Cant think of many times over the years we have had 2 great left backs! And both so young! I think there will be bids for Cressy this summer but i think given the way we have been going this year that he may just be persuaded to stay on! Mings is more than able to come in for him though so i dont think its a problem position for us now! Which is excellent! COYB's!
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Karlosfandangal added 16:14 - Apr 10 gazzmac4 I agree they are like buses, for year we have stuggled and now, however we have a nother summer of will he or wont he go, i think Cresswell will go in the summer.
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Len_Brennan added 16:16 - Apr 10 Judging by a lot of comments on previous Cresswell related stories, there seems to be a "no big loss if he goes, we have Mings who is just as good" feeling among many supporters; I'm not one of them. I do like Mings & think he will do well WHEN he replaces Cresswell as our left back, probably during the summer, but I feel we will really miss the quality that Cresswell brings to the attack. The reference to his assists in the article above just illustrates the point. Lets also remember that he has formed a really good understanding with the others in the back 4, particularly Tommy Smith, too. He is not perfect & won't be keeping Baines out of the England team, but I certainly wouldn't swap him for any other Championship left back. I just don't understand all the "overrated" & other negative comments for him. I'll be sorry to see him go & be thankful for the huge profit the club will make on him after years of committed & quality play.

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alexsmith111 added 16:30 - Apr 10 Il be sad to see him go but if we don't make at least playoffs then he will. Mings can be as good, but that will not be next year, maybe not even year after that.
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Jimmy86 added 17:03 - Apr 10 If cressy does go in the summer we will need to replace with like for like quality, because despite his frustration at not playing more or the fact he does have potential I dont think he is ready to fill the void if cresswell goes. We need a stephen ward from wolves (on loan at brighton) or in my choice would be danny fox, on loan at forest. But they may take him perm. Also id leave tunnicliffe well alone, he doesn't offer enough and we need better if we are to progress next season

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TractorBoy666 added 17:10 - Apr 10 Good news about Cresswell, I personally don't think he will go in the summer but if he does, Mings seems a good enough player to replace him or we could go in for someone else. Also, don't get Tunnicliffe back as he chose to go to Wigan over us. Now he's come unstuck with both Wigan and Fulham not wanting him, unlucky Ryan.
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footyblue added 17:11 - Apr 10 Cresswell is good but could be so much better if he actually went past the last man and got to the byline Clapham style Just My opinion though and also think Hewitt should be our RB end of
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yun added 17:38 - Apr 10 Stability at the back is something we lacked for a long time. 26 games unchanged is superb and, I'm sure, not just down to luck. Hope we can maintain the impetus on Saturday. Daryl Murphy has been excellent since David McGoldrick's injury.
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muccletonjoe added 18:46 - Apr 10 just glad he is playing Saturday. we have struggled to win the following home game when getting a good away win , this needs to change on Saturday as a draw will almost end our hopes of the top 6
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Bluebongo added 18:50 - Apr 10 Thoroughly agree with footyblue, Cressy often fails to take on the last man to get to the bye line. still a good LB though. Not sure about Hewitt at RB, he would only have Gherks to pass to.
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dannyrr added 19:52 - Apr 10 I agree Creswell can be good but so frustrating to watch. He seems to have a fear of being up the other end of the pitch on his own when we make a break. He may have been directed to not stray too far up the pitch. There have been times when we have made the break and Cresswell has stopped and held the play up long enough for the opposition to get back in their own half and stop our attack. If he had the attacking spirit of Joniesta we may well have scored many more goals this season. The times I have seen Mings play he has been more likely to go and attack the opposition.

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Ipswich121 added 23:19 - Apr 10 I think cresswell was allowed to be more attacking when tunnicliffe was in front of him and that's why they developed a good understanding of each other, with hunt- he is more of a winger so cresswell has to hold back more.(this is not me slating hunt btw) I think cresswell would be more suited to playing 5 at the back with 3 cbs smith, Berra and chambo with cresswell and Hewitt/Mings as wingbacks with a bit less defensive responsibilities. With 3 central midfielders who could cover.

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Popeye added 08:35 - Apr 11 Unlikely town could afford tunicliffe's fee or wages unless in prem next season. If its true than fulham want rid then possbility of another season long loan if still in championship but i'm not sure whether town really need another player like him as town really need more attack minded players like williams.
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