Town have injury concerns over Jimmy Juan, Scott Barron and Danny Haynes ahead of Saturday's home game with Hull City. Ian Westlake is back after a dead leg, while Owen Garvan and Alan Lee are both fit despite having missed training.

Juan suffered a recurrence of his groin injury at Preston 10 days ago and Barron has a tight hamstring, a problem related to scar tissue from an injury had as a 15-year-old. Haynes has an ankle injury and wasn't at the club on Thursday due to flu.

Richard Naylor is unavailable as he completes the two-match suspension for his red card at Preston. On-loan striker Ricardo Fuller has returned to Southampton after his sending off at Palace ruled him out of the Hull game, the last match of his loan spell.

Better news is that Ian Westlake is back in the squad after his dead leg, while Alan Lee is fine despite his recent hamstring and foot problems. Owen Garvan is also OK after earlier concerns over a slight knee injury.

Strike-pair Sam Parkin and Nicky Forster are back in training after ankle and knee injuries respectively and are expected to be in the reserves side playing West Ham at Needham Market's Bloomfields on Friday (KO 7pm).

Loanee defender Jay McEveley is also likely to be involved with the second string unless Scott Barron's injury means he is required for the first team squad on Saturday. Midfielder Gavin Williams is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.

Barron's absence could open the way for Chris Casement to make his first senior start, having made his debut as a sub at Selhurst Park last weekend. The Northern Irish youngster could come in at right-back with Fabian Wilnis joining Jason De Vos in the centre and Sito coming in on the left. Shane Supple will continue in goal.

Skipper Jim Magilton will keep his place in the middle of midfield alongside Owen Garvan unless Jimmy Juan is back from his injury. Ian Westlake could return to the midfield four, perhaps in place of Darren Currie, who may be required to reprise his role ahead of the midfield four but behind main striker Alan Lee if Danny Haynes is sidelined, although Dean McDonald will hope to be given a start as he looks to win a new contract.

Royle says that the Tigers, who beat the Blues 2-0 at the KC Stadium at Christmas, are a team full of unsung heroes: "They're a very honest, workmanlike side. It might only be Nick Barmby that people know in football but they've got a lot of good players. Jon Parkin has gone there and done very well, he's had a great start. He was one we knew about but that would cost money.

"No doubt it'll be a hard game. I can't remember us having an easy game here this season."

Hull boss Peter Taylor, who named both Ian Westlake and Matt Richards in England U21 squads, the latter winning one cap, has signed former Town trialist Rui Marques on loan for the rest of the season from Leeds. Marques impressed for the Blues in the pre-season friendly against Rangers but joined the Elland Roadclub shortly afterwards. A loan deal for former Town defender Georges Santos has collapsed.

Defender Alan Rogers and midfielder Stuart Elliott have both missed training due to illness and may not be OK to make the trip to Suffolk. Taylor has put Andy Dawson, back after a broken foot, and Kevin Ellison on standby.

Saturday's referee is Ray Olivier from the West Midlands who has shown 63 yellow and three red cards in 22 games this season. His last Town match was the 1-0 away win at Cardiff in March last year.

Town squad from: Supple, Price, Sito, Barron, Casement, De Vos, Wilnis, McEveley, Magilton, Juan, Westlake, Richards, Garvan, Skard, Currie, Lee, McDonald, Haynes.

Photo: Action Images

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