Town manager Joe Royle has included Jim Magilton in his squad despite the midfielder having missed training this week with a groin problem. Tommy Miller also missed training today but is still likely to be OK for the visit to Fratton Park on Saturday.

Royle can call on Chris Makin again after his hamstring problem while Mark Venus fails to make the squad and is considered two weeks away from action with knee ligament damage. John McGreal, suffering with a similar problem, is also out and won't be back until after Venus.

Royle says that Marcus Bent, on the way back after a knee operation, will again be on the bench: “We are taking Marcus Bent, although he's not fully fit. It's nice to see that we should have a near-enough full compliment of players in the New Year once John McGreal is fit.

“Marcus played 70 or 80 minutes in the reserves on Wednesday which was longer than I expected. He says himself that he's way off full fitness, but you can see in training what he's got, he's a powerful boy.”

Not travelling with the squad are Alun Armstrong, Martijn Reuser and Finidi George who are staying behind to work with Simon Thadani on their fitness. Royle says that he is leaving all the negotiations regarding Finidi's future to David Sheepshanks. A number of Spanish clubs are thought to be in talks with the Town chairman.

Royle says he doesn't expect the January transfer window to be too busy for any club: “My own feeling is that it will be a lot quieter than people expect. I speak to Premier League managers and they are all saying the same thing, they've no money. So the window might be three-quarters shut.”

The Blues' boss says he has been disappointed not to have seen Justin Miller in action since his return from Leyton Orient. The South African central defender was injured in training and missed the reserve game with Charlton earlier in the week. Royle says that even if Miller hadn't ruled out a permanent move to Brisbane Road himself then Town wouldn't have allowed him to go: “I wanted to see him. We want to take a look at him and make our minds up about him.

“There's not a reserve game for three weeks and we'll look to arrange one. We've got a lot of people who could do with a game, like Martijn Reuser and Marcus Bent.”

Royle knows Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp well: “He's a good friend, Harry, we've had many duals together. He's done an awesome job there when you look at it, they've come from nowhere to top of the league.

“He's put his faith in quality, Merson looks inspired for them at the moment and Festa will be available for them on Saturday.”

Like so many opposing managers Redknapp feels Town are one of the best sides in the division: “Ipswich are a side that can pose a big threat to us in this game. I feel they are a team capable of getting into that top six.

"You've only got to look at their squad. They've got Marcus Bent, a strong front man who is back to fitness. He cost over £3 million and has done well in the Premiership.

"They've got a £5 million buy in Hermann Hreidarsson and, Matt Holland was the subject of a £4 million bid from Aston Villa just before the transfer window closed.

"With front players like Pablo Couñago, Darren Bent and Richard Naylor around it goes to show what potential Ipswich have.

"At the start of the season they were my favourites to go up. They are a class team and it surprises me that they're where they are.

"Their manager Joe Royle said to a friend of mine the other week that the squad at Portman Road is the best of any inherited at a club he's taken over.

"My coach Kevin Bond saw them in the draw at Brighton not so long ago. He said that in the second half they passed and moved the ball so well. Kevin said they looked like a Premiership side.

"Make no mistake, we've got a big game on our hands against Ipswich."

Redknapp welcomes back Matthew Taylor after a one-match suspension while Vincent Pericard misses out with a calf strain. Deon Burton and Jason Crowe are both pushing places in the first XI.

Steve Stone goes into the Pompey squad after leaving Aston Villa on a free transfer having had loan spell at Fratton Park earlier in the season. Also included is Mark Burchill who spent time at Town on loan in early 2001, scoring once in seven appearances.

Town squad: Ambrose, D Bent, M Bent, Clapham, Couñago, Gaardsøe, Holland, Hreidarsson, Magilton, Makin, Marshall, T Miller, Naylor, Pullen, Richards, Wilnis and Wright.

Portsmouth squad: Hislop, Primus, Foxe, De Zeeuw, Harper, Diabate, Quashie, Taylor, Merson, Burton, Todorov, Kawaguchi, Crowe, Ritchie, Robinson and Burchill.

Photo: Action Images

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