Town manager Joe Royle will again rotate his squad as the Blues travel to Slovan Liberec in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. Royle says that he plans to leave Jim Magilton and Mark Venus at home as his squad fly out on Wednesday.

Royle has few new injury worries ahead of the game. Tommy Miller has a slight knock to the knee which kept him out of action on Saturday. That may keep him from making the trip as the manager feels he has strength enough in his midfield not to need to risk anyone.

Alun Armstrong was a bit stiff after Saturday's game and the travelling but this isn't likely to be a problem.

Royle rested Darren Ambrose for Saturday's game at Sheffield United and says he will do the same with other players this time around: “I'm going to rest one or two. I'm not going to involve Mark Venus or Jim Magilton at this stage, not with all the travelling. It's a good opportunity to look at one or two others.”

Neither of the two veterans will travel, although Magilton may get recalled should Tommy Miller's knee keep him out of action. Once again youngsters Matt Richards and Ian Westlake are included in the squad.

Royle welcomes Pablo Couñago back after his three-match suspension and says the ex-Celta Vigo man was looking bright in training today after a spell back home in Spain.

The Town manager rates Thursday's opponents, who the club have had watched three times, and thinks it will be a tough game: “They're a good side. You can see that they are very technically equipped. They are strong, although they had a defeat at the weekend.

“The fact that we're making a few changes doesn't dilute our interest in the competition. We'd love to go all the way, but it is a hard season for the club, 46 league games and three cup competition and we have players we can rotate and I intend to do so.”

Provisional squad: Ambrose, Armstrong, D Bent, Brown, Clapham, Couñago, Gaardsøe, George, Holland, Hreidarsson, Makin, Marshall, McGreal, T Miller, Pullen, Richards, Westlake, Wilnis and Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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