Striker Alan Lee is a doubt for Town ahead of Saturday's trip to Luton with a groin problem. Captain Jim Magilton is out, but French midfielder Jimmy Juan, linchpin defender Richard Naylor and frontman Dean Bowditch all return.

The Irishman has been carrying the injury for much of the time since he made his comeback from his hamstring problem. If Lee fails to make it, Dean Bowditch will start after returning from his two-month loan spell at Wycombe.

Naylor returns from a two-match ban for his red card at Preston and may be considered for a striking role, either from the start or later on in the game, should Lee fail to make it.

Skipper Magilton took a kick during last week's draw with Hull and has a bruised ankle. The Northern Irishman is expected to be OK for next week's home game with Stoke City.

Jimmy Juan was back in training on Thursday after his groin problem and will start in Magilton's place at Kenilworth Road.

Defender Jay McEveley, who has played two reserve games in the last week as he continues his comeback from his medial knee ligament operation, will be on the bench and will play some part on Saturday.

Striker Nicky Forster is back training with the first team after his February cartilage operation and could be in the reserves side playing Charlton at Portman Road on Monday, while Sam Parkin could be out for the season having had a slight setback in his recovery from his broken ankle. The summer £450,000 signing from Swindon has a slight inflammation which is not considered a serious problem.

Midfielder Gavin Williams, out for the rest of the season after knee surgery, is progressing well and will be ready to return to action in pre-season. Ian Westlake has joined him on the sidelines for the rest of 2005/06, although his ankle injury is not as bad as was initially feared and will not require an operation.

The Blues will continue with Shane Supple in goal, while Scott Barron will be at left-back. Richard Naylor will return in the centre alongside Jason De Vos, unless required up front. Fabian Wilnis will be at right-back unless Naylor is pushed forward.

In midfield, Jimmy Juan will join Owen Garvan in the middle with Matt Richards on the left and with Darren Currie likely to be used on the right. Danny Haynes could come in up front alongside Lee if he's fit, while Dean Bowditch is likely to play some part in the game after his loan spell at Wycombe.

Royle is yet to concede that the play-offs are out of reach but admits they are now a very tall order. However, he is keen for his developing team to finish as far up the table as possible: "We've only lost two games since Christmas and we want to maintain that form. If it is promise that we're talking about, we want to finish as high as we can to maintain that promise.

"Luton have been strong at home. They remind me in so many ways of my Oldham side in the late 80s and early 90s. They're fearless, they go for it, they're very attacking-minded and they're certainly a prospect for next year if they add to what they've got this year."

Luton boss Mike Newell expects an entertaining match: "Ipswich try to play football and that suits us, so it should be a decent game. We lost at their place and we were unfortunate to do so.

"A lot of people would have expected Ipswich to be higher in the table, but they also expected Norwich, Wolves and Crystal Palace to be higher than they are.

"They've been through a transitional period and had to bring some youngsters through."

Luton will be missing Paul Underwood with a broken arm, while skipper Kevin Nicholls is not yet ready for a return after a medial knee ligament injury.

England spinner Monty Panesar is a special guest of the Hatters at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, the Northamptonshire cricketer is a big Luton fan having been born in the Bedfordshire town.

Saturday's referee is Lee Mason from Lancashire who has shown 69 yellow and three red cards in 30 matches this season. One of those red cards was issued to Town's Sito in the derby at Portman Road in September, a dismissal which was eventually overturned.

Town squad: Supple, Price, Wilnis, Barron, Sito, Naylor, De Vos, Casement, McEveley, Garvan, Juan, Currie, Richards, Skard, Lee, Haynes, Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

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