Town skipper Matt Holland is still hopeful that he will be fit for Saturday's game with Sunderland. The man who has made 169 consecutive appearances has taken to paddling in the sea in order to reduce the pain and swelling from the ankle injury caused by a wayward Gary Neville tackle on Tuesday

It does seem that he has only an outside chance of making it for the Sunderland game, manager George Burley said: "To play 169 consecutive games in a tremendous achievement but we have to be realistic and say he is doubtful, though we will leave it until Saturday to see if the bruising and swelling goes down." If, as looks likely, Holland misses out James Scowcroft and Martijn Reuser will be the likely replacements.

John Scales will not be fit for tomorrow's game, although he isn't too far from recovery from his thigh injury.

Likely Town squad: R Wright, Wilnis, Clapham, Bramble, Hreidarsson, Venus, Holland, Magilton, J Wright, Johnson, Stewart, Reuser, Scowcroft, McGreal, Branagan, Croft, Brown and Mowbray.

Town's Dutch youngsters Nabil Abidallah and Guillermo Graaven are celebrating being called up to their nation's U18 side. The two Dutchmen, who joined from Ajax in the summer, will be involved when the Dutch kids take on Yugoslavia next month.

Photo: Action Images

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