Striker Nicky Forster will be on the bench when the Blues face Crewe at Portman Road on Saturday. Forster has been out of action since undergoing a cartilage operation in mid-August having made only three appearances after joining Town on a free transfer in the summer.

Forster was back in training with the first team on Thursday having previously joined in with the Academy players. The former Reading man felt no ill effects and boss Joe Royle says that barring any adverse developments he will be available for the visit of the Railwaymen: "Nicky will be in the squad for the weekend if he trains without any problems.

"He will only be on the bench though, because he hasn't any football whatsoever for several weeks."

Forster's recovery means Ian Westlake remains Town's only long-term injury absentee, the midfielder's ankle problem keeping him out of action until December.

Royle will be able to name the same team for the third game running but may choose to make one or two changes after the midweek 3-0 defeat at Burnley.

The back four looks likely to stay the same but there could be a switch in midfield, Kevin Horlock or Jim Magilton perhaps being left out with Jimmy Juan or Dean McDonald candidates to come into the side. If Magilton is involved he will make his 250th Town league appearance.

Up front, Sam Parkin and Dean Bowditch, making his 50th league appearance for the Blues, will continue with Forster likely to take over from the England U19 international at some point during the second half.

The Town manager says that he is still looking for a finish in the play-off positions: "I have always said that the top six, rather than the top two, represents the more realistic target for us this season.

"If the top two keep winning and extend the gap between themselves and the rest it means fewer points that the other teams around us can collect.

"We have had too much change to be automatic promotion candidates. Yes, we have some promising young players but when you put kids in the side it can be a case, literally, of boys against men.

"You need a balance and we have been affected by injuries and suspensions over the past few weeks. Burnley couldn't get the ball off us in the first half on Tuesday, but the problem was that we never looked as if we would score.

"That's what we will be looking to change on Saturday at home to Crewe. We must be more menacing in front of goal."

Town's last two home games against Crewe have ended 6-4 and 5-1 and Royle isn't expecting a goalless draw this time around: "It's an important match for both teams. We will both be trying to get midweek defeats out of our systems.

"And bearing in mind what has happened in this fixture over the past two seasons, I suppose a 0-0 draw is unlikely!"

Crewe could be without defender Anthony Tonkin who has a calf injury and missed the midweek 4-0 defeat to Wolves. Ross Turnbull (knee) and Adie Moses (calf) are definitely ruled out.

Saturday's referee is Clive Penton from Sussex who has shown 34 yellow and three red cards in 10 games this season. Penton last refereed the Blues last October when Town defeated Coventry 2-1 at Highfield Road.

Squad from: Price, Supple, Sito, McEveley, Wilnis, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton, Horlock, Currie, Garvan, Juan, Bowditch, Forster, Parkin, McDonald.

Photo: Action Images

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