Town manager Joe Royle says he will make changes ahead of Saturday's home clash with Sheffield United. Town have lost their last two games and as a result Royle feels he needs to switch things around.

The Blues have no new injuries with John McGreal and Finidi George both joining in full training this week after knee and thigh problems respectively. Martijn Reuser missed training on Thursday while Richard Naylor is back after missing out of late. All four are likely to be involved in the reserve game next week.

Alun Armstrong was substituted at half-time in the reserve game against Fulham on Wednesday suffering from tiredness. The ex-Boro player has had some restless nights recently after his wife gave birth to a baby.

Royle says that he is set to make at least one switch on Saturday: “There will be a change/changes, I'm not totally decided yet but there will be at least one change, that is for sure. We lost two games in Yorkshire I felt we shouldn't have lost.

“Last week's performance was not disturbing, that would be the wrong word to use as we'd gone nine league games undefeated previously, but there were just one or two things that I feel need freshening up, so there will be at least one change”

He is remaining tight-lipped on precisely what those modifications he might make. The manager says that how they react to the two recent defeats will be a test for his side: “It's how we react to it that is important now. They have done great, they've been so honest, and even last week I don't think it was honesty which let us down, just a bit of commitment and aggression that we needed, but we have conceded six goals in two games and created enough chances to win a month full of games at Sheffield United, so it is perhaps time for a change.”

Town are not looking to move a game forward to replace the postponed fixture with Crystal Palace next weekend. They will also not be making any trips abroad as the Blades have this week.

Neil Warnock has taken his men to La Manga, Spain after their recent league and cup exertions. His Town counterpart says he has seen these trips work and fail in similar measure: “I've seen that work both ways. I took Oldham away once and the goalkeeper came back with double-vision, that wasn't what we were looking for!”

Like the Blues, the Blades were defeated last week, at Millwall. Royle says that both sides will be looking to return to form: “We both had a setback last week. I suppose they needed a break as they'd played so many games, but they would have liked to have gone away with three points in their pocket. They too will be looking for a response.

“You have to say at the moment that they are the team in form in our division, but we'll take great encouragement from our revival there and the chances we created. Probably there and at Burnley were the games where we have made most chances all season. I wouldn't mind them having the cup-tie if we get the three points.”

The Town manager paid tribute to Dale Roberts, whose death he says has deeply affected everyone at the club: “The place was a notch down this morning. I've known him a long time without knowing him closely. I saw him a couple of weeks ago in a restaurant and he was genuinely pleased with the way the team were doing and wished us all the best. An hour later he didn't have the energy to say goodbye, so he was obviously suffering.

“It's very sad and the football community will miss him. I've seen him here in dug-outs for many years and George in particular will be beside himself as they were very close. The soccer community will feel for Cheryl and the boys, it's very sad.”

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

Photo: Action Images

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