Town skipper Jim Magilton is set to make a surprise recovery ahead of Wednesday's trip to Nottingham Forest. The midfielder had been given virtually no chance of making it due to a foot injury, but what Joe Royle calls a "Lazarus-like recovery" has brought the Northern Irishman back into contention.

Royle is amazed at Magilton's progress: "Jim has had a Lazarus-like recovery. He had a pressure boot on yesterday and we even had doubts for Saturday.

"But it's amazing when you're winning you do get amazing recoveries, and Jim's in with a big chance. We're giving him a fitness test at lunchtime when we arrive at the hotel.

"He's not trained with the squad today but he's been running freely and kicking a ball, which is amazing as I gave his chances as about 10%."

Magilton's injury was inflicted by a late Julian Gray tackle on Saturday at Cardiff, causing bruising and a cut: "He didn't have stitches, the skin was opened up but it wasn't that deep.

"The medical people thought that it would heal quicker without stitches, particularly as it is at the top of his instep.

"He's a big influence and if he can kick a ball and run, he's in. He's our captain and if he's fit I want him to play."

Should Magilton not make it then Town's new Scottish call-up Tommy Miller will take his place.

Back in the squad is Alan Mahon, but Royle says the Irishman will be on the bench at the City Ground: "Alan's not ready to start. He's only had 70 minutes in the reserves after seven weeks out.

"Yesterday in training he looked the best he's looked by a mile and he's certainly on his way back. In another situation he would have been rushed back but Ian Westlake's done well."

Town's injury situation is gradually clearing up with Chris Makin the only real long-term absentee. His hip/groin injury is still a mystery and the full-back is set to see another specialist on Thursday.

The problem is proving difficult to pin down and he has even had an injection in the main nerve.

Central defender Drissa Diallo is on course for a return around Christmas after his knee ligament operation. His progress has been good and the Guinean international may even be looking at a comeback sooner than expected.

Pablo Couñago has trained for the last two days and will be back in the squad for Saturday's home game against Derby County. Had he been required, the Spaniard might have been recalled for Forest, but with other players fit Royle says there is no need to rush him back.

Dean Bowditch is not in the squad after playing extra-time in the FA Youth Cup match away at Leeds on Monday.

Despite a number of last season's stars either on the sidelines or sold, the Town boss still rates Forest: "They are a good side. The report we had on Saturday said that the 3-0 defeat was very harsh on them.

"In actual fact they could have gone ahead in the game and they have got good players. They beat us twice next year and it's a game we'd love to win for obvious reasons."

Forest have replaced Marlon Harewood with Marlon King, a player Royle sees as a threat: "He's a handful in this division, he's scored goals before and he's a dangerous player.

"We've got to go there looking at what we do. I say regularly that it's about us, and it is about us if we can carry on in the form we showed on Saturday. We're in a good run and we've got to impose ourselves on them.

"Whilst we're going to pay them all respect, it's us who are fourth in the table at the moment, and it's us who are going well. They've got to worry a little bit about us. I hope!"

Wednesday's referee is Colin Webster from Shotley Bridge, Tyne and Wear. So far this season he has shown 56 yellow cards and four red in 17 games. His last Town game was the 2-1 home loss to Crystal Palace in November 2002

Town squad: Armstrong, Bart-Williams, Bent, Davis, Kuqi , Mahon, McGreal, Miller, Naylor , Price, Reuser, Richards Santos, Westlake, Wilnis, Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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