Keeper Kelvin Davis and striker Darren Bent have emerged as doubts for Town ahead of Saturday's home game with Rotherham United. Davis has a throat infection while Bent has picked up a knee problem.

Royle says Davis will be assessed on Saturday: “Kelvin has gone straight home this morning with a throat infection and a pocket full of antibiotics, so we'll see how he is. He's not in on Friday, so we'll see how he is on Saturday.”

If Davis misses out it is likely that Lewis Price will come in for his senior debut with Andy Marshall on the bench.

Darren Bent's problem only became evident on Thursday, according to the Town boss: “Darren Bent has swelling on his right knee, a mild ligament strain and a bit of fluid in his calf. He is doubtful at this stage for the weekend.”

They are added to Town's already long injury list, although one or two of the players on the sidelines are close to a return. Central defender Drissa Diallo will be back to running in the next few days after his lateral ligament strain picked up in a clash with Georges Santos.

Midfielder Martijn Reuser is back in light training on his return from a groin problem while John McGreal had an epidural last week for a back problem and has done some training. The former Tranmere man is not likely to be back in action until November.

Tommy Miller (knee tendon) has started running and is likely to resume full training in the next week and be back in the squad in a fortnight. Chris Makin is on a similar timescale after his thigh muscle pull.

Royle as been impressed with loanee Chris Bart-Williams who is extending his stay at Town for at least another month: “I think he's been terrific. I don't think we've had a true anchor man in midfield since I've been here, someone who's happy to sit there and defend in front of the back four and Chris has done that and done it well.

“His presence has helped Jim Magilton into some great form at the moment. Jim's been outstanding in the last few games.”

Rotherham proved a thorn in Town's side last season, beating the Blues 2-1 both home and away. Royle felt his side did enough each time to win: “They beat us twice last season in two games we dominated. If we needed a wake-up call regarding conceding goals from crosses then the other night at Sunderland was it.

“That's what's Rotherham do, they put crosses in from here, there and everywhere, including throw-ins. We've have to be diligent when we are defending. What we have done so far this year is beat the sides around us and below us when we've needed to.

“I think if you look at the last four games, even the defeat at Sunderland, there was a lot to be pleased with and if we can carry on from there we'll have a great chance. Alan Mahon should be a bit fitter with a couple of days training behind him.”

Royle has been impressed with Shefki Kuqi in his first two loan games: “He's done everything that I thought he'd do. He's a big lad and he works for the team. He's like a 6ft 2in Paul Dickov in that he'll chase lost causes, chase shadows, waste paper and everything across the pitch. You need that, you need someone who is going to graft for you, all the top players do it.

“We died a little bit up front when he came off the other night. Putting fresh legs on didn't do us any good, losing Shefki turned out to be a bit of a no-no for us.”

Kuqi has come into a side whose strikers are yet to really fire on all cylinders, centre-half Richard Naylor currently top-scoring on three. Royle says this is an area which needs to improve: “We need our front men to score goals. We're yet to find the right partnership up front. If our leading goalscorer's a centre-half, we still need a partnership up front.”

Royle admires Ronnie Moore's efforts at Rotherham despite having had a pop at their Millmoor surface last season: “I had a little whinge about the pitch there last season, but I don't blame them — people used to whinge about Oldham's plastic pitch all the time and I used to smile, so I imagine he quite enjoyed my unhappiness about their corrugated pitch.

“But it is our pitch this week, so there's no excuses. We want a pitch as flat as possible. Despite the rumours we do still pass the ball. We work at passing all week, so we want to pass it on Saturdays.”

Good news for Town is that Shaun Barker is suspended for the Millers after a recent red card at Preston. Barker controversially avoided a red card against Town at Millmoor last season for a professional foul on Martijn Reuser. Subsequently his huge throws into the Town box led to both Rotherham goals.

Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore, who briefly was under the impression he was destined to be the Town boss last season, saw his side win 3-0 against Stoke on Tuesday. He hopes that the good result and performance, particularly from new striker Martin Butler, will be evident at Portman Road: “I have seen some light at the end of the tunnel and we have to take that on to a big game for us at Ipswich on Saturday.

“All the players were delighted that Martin Butler scored and it showed that there is nothing wrong with the spirit, which is great.

“He is a different type of player from Alan Lee [now with Cardiff City] but he will be a good player for us.”

As well as Butler, who recently signed from Reading for £150,000, the Millers have also captured Portsmouth midfielder Carl Robinson on loan.

They will hope star defender Scott Minto returns after a chest infection while John Mullin and Darren Garner will also be looking to return to the side. Stewart Talbot could return after a one-match suspension.

Town fans will be dismayed to discover that Andy D'Urso from Billericay is Saturday's referee. The last time D'Urso took control of a Town game was the Blues' last Premiership victory against Middlesbrough at Portman Road in April 2002.

However, in 2000/01 in Town's fixture at Stamford Bridge the Essex official awarded Chelsea a highly dubious penalty and controversially sent off John McGreal. This season D'Urso, on the Premiership list, has shown 17 yellow cards and one red in four matches.

Likely Town Squad: Davis/Marshall, Price, Richards, Wilnis, Naylor, Santos, Nash, Magilton, Bart-Williams, Mahon, Wright, Kuqi, Couñago, Bowditch Bent/Bloomfield, Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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