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Sito Amongst Derby Debuts
Sito Amongst Derby Debuts
Friday, 16th Sep 2005 15:44

Town go looking for their first home derby victory over Norwich City in seven years on Sunday (KO midday). Since Alex Mathie's first half hat-trick inspired the Blues to that famous 5-0 win in 1998, Town have beaten the Canaries only once, 2-0 at Carrow Road in 2002/03.

Few of the current squad have played for the Blues against Norwich with Lewis Price, Sito, Jason De Vos, Jay McEveley, Kevin Horlock, Owen Garvan, Jaime Peters, Jimmy Juan, Dean McDonald, Darren Currie and Sam Parkin all East Anglian derby virgins.

Skipper Jim Magilton is one of Town's more experienced derby campaigners and hopes to be OK to take on the Canaries despite still having problems with his arthritic toe.

Jay McEveley's foot has improved and the loanee from Blackburn is over a stomach bug which has hit one or two of the squad this week, including striker Sam Parkin.

Town's injury list includes Ian Westlake who is out of action for two months. The midfielder has had an MRI scan which showed that he had ruptured the front of the lateral ligament on his ankle after going over on it in training last week.

Fabian Wilnis has also had a scan and has a small tear to his groin muscle which is likely to keep him out of action until the Leeds game in a week's time. Spanish summer signing Sito, back from his suspension for his sending off at Sheffield United, will take his place at right-back.

Frontman Nicky Forster is on the way back after his cartilage operation but is unlikely to be in contention for a return until October.

Town have failed to bring in a loanee this week and so are likely to field a similar side to the one which drew 2-2 with Southampton on Tuesday. Dean Bowditch, who set up two goals in the 2003 win at Carrow Road on his senior debut, started the game against the Saints up front with summer Norwich target Sam Parkin in a 4-4-2 but switched to the left of midfield in the second half when Town moved to 4-5-1.

Jim Magilton could return to the starting line-up depending on his toe, probably in place of Kevin Horlock, Owen Garvan having been given the nod ahead of the former Manchester City and Swindon man for most of Town's home games this season.

Norwich are expected to give a full debut to loan defender Calum Davenport with either Jason Shackell or Craig Fleming dropping to the bench. At Watford on Tuesday the Spurs man took over from Shackell at half-time.

Fellow loanee Kevin Lisbie is likely to form a strike partnership with Dean Ashton, who would have been targeted by Joe Royle had Darren Bent left for Charlton a year earlier than he did. Lisbie scored a spectacular last minute goal for Charlton at Portman Road in their 1-0 victory over the Blues in 2001/02 and also netted on his full Canaries debut at Watford on Tuesday, but in vain as the Hornets won 2-1.

Darren Huckerby is available after a two-match ban but under fire boss Nigel Worthington has hinted that he may not come straight back into the starting line-up.

The Canaries have a number of injury problems with Peter Thorne out with a knee problem, Leon McKenzie an ankle injury, Simon Charlton an achilles knock and Mathieu Louis-Jean not yet fit after thigh and hip injuries. Young striker Ryan Jarvis, an England U19 team-mate of Dean Bowditch, is still out after a hamstring problem.

Sunday's referee is Lee Mason from Lancashire who has shown 16 yellow and one red card in five matches this season. His last Town game was the 1-0 home win over Stoke last December. The Portman Road gates open at 10.30am, the game is not live on Sky and tickets were still available as of Friday morning.

Squad: Bowditch, Currie, De Vos, Garvan, Haynes, Horlock, Juan, Magilton, McDonald, McEveley, Naylor, Parkin, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito and Supple.


Photo: Action Images



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