Town boss Joe Royle will wait before deciding whether central defender John McGreal is fit enough to replace the suspended Richard Naylor at Derby on Saturday. McGreal, yet to feature this season, played the full 90 minutes for the reserves last night but didn't train today as a precaution.

Royle says he will speak with the former Tranmere man before making his decision: “He came through the reserves game fine. He's very tired today and hasn't trained. We'll see how he is on Friday.

“I'll have a bit of a chat with him. He is stiff and is probably not quite ready but we shall see. If he's not happy about he won't play, I won't press-gang him into it.

“I would think he will travel as he's at least going to be OK as a sub, if only to sit there and maybe give us 20 minutes if required. But we'll see.”

Town's lengthy injured list is gradually being reduced with Alan Mahon likely to be OK for the Blues' home game with Sheffield United in a fortnight. Mahon's loan from Blackburn has been suspended while he recovers from his hamstring problem, however he is receiving treatment at Portman Road.

Defender Chris Makin is still working on his fitness after a thigh injury and is now able to run in straight lines and will move on to ball-work next week.

Drissa Diallo is also able to run in straight lines, however his progress is not as fast as was hoped and he is set to see a specialist today. The Guinean international is currently unable to kick a ball, although he is not thought to have a serious problem.

Fellow central defender Gerard Nash twisted his knee in training last Friday and will be back in training in about a week. Nash's usual reserves defensive partner Aidan Collins is still not fit enough to be considered after his ankle sprain.

Young full-back Scott Mitchell, a recent fixture on the first team bench, jarred an ankle in the reserves which will keep him out until early next week.

Dutchman Martijn Reuser came through the reserves on Wednesday without a problem but is still a long way from being considered for the first team

Striker Darren Bent will be on the bench at Derby after coming through 45 minutes of the reserves' 5-1 win against Nottingham Forest. Alun Armstrong, a hat-trick hero in that game, will also be back in the squad after a calf strain.

Chris Bart-Williams, like Naylor suspended for one match after picking up five bookings, will be replaced by Tommy Miller in the Town midfield.

The sheer volume of injuries at present has Joe Royle suggesting that he may not name the full complement of five substitutes at Pride Park: “We might only have three subs. We'll have to wait and see who's fit. I can't say until I know whether John McGreal's fit. We are getting very close to not having five on the bench.”

Should McGreal not make it then Fabian Wilnis looks the favourite to get the nod at centre-half, having played there on a number of occasions during George Burley's spell as manager of Town.

Royle says he may not be his only option: “He's a possibility, we'll have to wait and see, I don't want to commit myself. I've got two choices, Fabian's one of them and you've got to guess the other one. I don't want to tell George Burley too much, he knows half of these players as well as I do.”

With next weekend's Nottingham Forest match postponed, the Town boss says it's even more important for his team to win at Derby: “It's a game we've got to win as we're not playing the following week and I don't want to see a gap opening up again. We've toiled to get there, had a set-back last week and we need to respond quickly.

“It's a very important game for us. We won there last year but that isn't going to make it any easier for us, although they've not been having the best of results recently. I'm sure George will have his team fired up for this one, against his old team.”

Royle says his side need to be more consistent at the back: “We still leak too many goals. Even in the great run we had we were almost trading goals to win games. That can't go on and we're looking for a solid back four from somewhere.

“Richard Naylor's back after this game, Drissa Diallo continues to be not that far away but not near enough that we can play him, and John McGreal is the close to fitness. We are looking for that solid back four which can give us a 1-0 somewhere.”

The Town boss says he has decided what to do about Chris Bart-Williams' loan spell when its second month comes to an end but is keeping his cards close to his chest: “I'll be telling you next week. I've been delighted with his contribution. The last couple of games he's not done quite as well for us, but overall I've been delighted with him.”

Former Town boss George Burley hopes his side aren't on the end of a Blues' backlash after their defeat to Gillingham last week: "I'm sure losing at home to Gillingham was a big disappointment and they will be looking to bounce back and start another run when they visit Pride Park.

"Ipswich will be up there challenging for promotion. They have a lot of quality in their squad, a good mixture of youth and experience.

Last season Town won the corresponding game 4-1. Burley says the contrast between the matches should illustrate his side's development: “It will be interesting to compare the two games to see how much we have improved.

"I still believe that the Ipswich squad is stronger but we have closed the gap. Adding players like Michael Johnson and Ian Taylor has helped and both of them will be available after missing the Preston game through suspension, as will Tom Huddlestone.

"Some of our performances in the last seven games have been good but we have not picked up enough points."

Derby have striker Junior missing, along with keeper Andy Oakes who will be replaced by Lee Grant. Former Watford full-back Peter Kennedy has joined on loan as has West Brom's Daniele Dichio, but Matt Svensson has been recalled by Charlton Athletic. Troubled midfielder Adam Murray has also left the club.

Centre-back Youl Mawene returned recently after long-term knee problems while Burley will hope that Richard Jackson is over the flu bug which kept him out against Preston earlier this week.

Saturday's referee is Keith Hill from Royston. Coincidentally he officiated in Town's 1-0 home defeat to the Rams last September. This season he has shown 26 yellow cards in 11 games and is yet to send anyone off.

Probable Town squad: Davis, Price, Wilnis, Richards, Santos, McGreal, Wright, Magilton, Miller, Westlake, Bloomfield, Murray, Couñago, Kuqi, Bent, Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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