Blues boss Paul Jewell is sweating on the fitness of skipper Grant Leadbitter ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Blackpool. The midfielder hurt his hip during Wednesday’s unlucky defeat at Birmingham.

The Town manager is short of other central midfield options with Jimmy Bullard not yet 100% after his virus. Leadbitter seems likely to play unless really struggling, alongside Andy Drury with Bullard or Luke Hyam probably on the bench.

Josh Carson, who has played in central midfield regularly in the reserves and at U18 level, could also be viewed as potential cover amongst the subs.

Elsewhere in the side, Daryl Murphy and Lee Martin look set to carry on in the wide roles with Tommy Smith and Ibrahima Sonko at the centre of the defence, Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Edwards in the full-back roles and Alex McCarthy making his home debut in goal.

Up front, Jewell could recall Michael Chopra alongside Jason Scotland as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had a quieter game at Birmingham after a number of promising performances recently.

Defender Damien Delaney remains out with a foot injury and Lee Bowyer with a groin problem.

Despite their fourth successive defeat at St Andrew’s, the Blues boss says he and his players have to remain positive: “You have to recover because if you don’t recover or you feel sorry for yourself you get beaten even more. We’ve got to dust ourselves down and get ready for another game tomorrow.

“Every game is difficult and every team in this league is capable of beating every other. I think that’s been proven throughout this season.”

He says the Tangerines will be tough opponents with manager Ian Holloway having done well despite losing some of their best players: “They’re a good team and Ian Holloway has done a great job.

“After losing Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell, he’s replaced them with good players and they look a good team. I’ve known Ian for a long time, when he started at Bristol Rovers when I was at Bradford.”

The Seasiders are without skipper Barry Ferguson, who is still banned after receiving a red card against his old club Birmingham on New Year’s Eve.

Former Blues striker Billy Clarke joined Blackpool on a free transfer from Town in the summer of 2009, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was on loan at Bloomfield Road between August and December of the same year, making seven starts and five sub appearances, scoring once.

The Seasiders tried to sign Jason Scotland before the summer transfer window closed and Blackpool veterans Kevin Phillips and Barry Ferguson were both Blues targets early in their careers, as well as over the summer in the striker’s case.

Historically, Town have won eight games between the sides (seven in the league), seven have been drawn (seven) and Blackpool have won four (three).

In September, at Bloomfield Road, second half goals from Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Barry Ferguson saw Blackpool to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Blues.

Town never looked like getting back into the game after Taylor-Fletcher’s 49th minute opener, Ferguson adding the second 11 minutes later.

Last time out at Portman Road, in December 2009, Town won 3-1 with Jon Stead, Jack Colback and Gareth McAuley scoring for the Blues and Evatt netting for the visitors.

Saturday's match programme includes an in-depth interview with Town owner Marcus Evans, who talks about various issues, including Paul Jewell's future with the club. An online electronic version of the programme is available here as well as the paper version at the game.

Saturday’s referee is Gavin Ward from Surrey, who has shown 69 yellow cards and five reds in 22 games so far this season. Ward’s last Town game was the 1-0 victory over Portsmouth in which he booked only Lee Bowyer.

Squad from: McCarthy, Lee-Barrett, Wright, Edwards, Cresswell, Sonko, Smith, Ainsley, Leadbitter, Drury, Bullard, Hyam, Carson, Martin, Murphy, Chopra, Scotland, Emmanuel-Thomas, Ellington.

Photo: Action Images

PauloJulio added 16:06 - Jan 13 13 days into the transfer window, only 2 wins in 13 games and still not the sniff of any new permanent signings. WTF is going on? We are desperate for re-enforcement's. I fear we will be bottom in a couple of weeks when the transfer activity starts to heat up and by then no-one will wonna sign for us!
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marcusevans added 16:08 - Jan 13 The clock is indeed ticking...............................on PJ's reign.
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Hamish1979 added 16:15 - Jan 13 marcus evans - that picture is actually of marcus evans isn't it?
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SuperReuser added 16:19 - Jan 13 i think drury has potential to be a good player for us. didnt look very good against birmingham but i think we will come good. Also get Carson in the side. when he comes on he always looks lively and is not scared to run at the defence. forget ellington this time too... COYB
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irishtim added 16:34 - Jan 13 Still no signings! Whats going on? No cover in defence or midfield or upfront. Pj seems to want to talk about the lineswoman or whatever she is called than getting reinforcements in.
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singtown added 16:37 - Jan 13 Time to get the young legs into the team and run the midfield engine room, how to break into first team if the youngsters are not given the chance to display their potential?
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jas0999 added 16:49 - Jan 13 Presumably we have a new CB to play in this game? PJ and the club have know for a long while that we would be short come January - so where are the re-inforcements? We need permanent players not loans. Okay SSL fell through - but surely there was a Plan B, C and D?? We should win tomorrow - the law of averages suggest we will win one or two. Also record against Blackpool is very good. PJ needs the win - badly. But even then 11 defeats in 14 will take a lot of good results to counteract. Best of luck to the players.

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Leoipswich added 16:49 - Jan 13 Please be injured leadbitter
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darren_cox added 16:50 - Jan 13 Hamish1979 I'm sure your right in suggesting that is marcus evans. Lose tomorrow and surely Jewell will be gone. Where are the new signings then? Irons in the fire? Start getting some quality players in or pay the price.
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mschultz76 added 16:52 - Jan 13 Really hope Leadbitter are fit to play. Good player for us and we need him in midfield. Play him with Drury, Martin and Carson and midfield will do ok. coyb
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Karlosfandangal added 16:55 - Jan 13 Really can see us winning this one, think Blackpool will beat us 3-0 as we seem to let 2 or 3 in as an average. Our summer signing have not lived up to their promice, when Chopra got the 2 goals on the opening day I throught at last, Scotland 5 this season yet playing better football than last season, really need a Sharpe type of player who can get us goals. Not sure what Jewell has been doing since the summer when he said he was looking a future targets, 13 days in and no new players got a feeling they will just panic buy towards the end of the window and we will get no better than we have now

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gcasselton1 added 16:57 - Jan 13 Leadbitters corners were a joke on Wednesday night. Drury looked out of place. Ellington made (surprise surprise) no impact. Lee Martin looked quality all game, as did Tommy Smith which was surprising, if he maintains the same quality then I don't mind seeing him play but I fear it was a one-off cos I've seen some dreadful performances from him. What I just said has no relevance to the post but I just felt like saying something. Cya

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John_Portman added 17:00 - Jan 13 2bh...not too fussed!gcasselton1- yes his corners were s***!! It would be good to see Tommy playing well again, i still feel he has it in him. And if we dont have grant...then big woop! Give someone else a chance! wat about tht really young lad from the youth academy?? Byron Lawrence i think? Shove him on the bench and see what he can do. Bet he puts in a shift, unlike our 'captain'!!

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llewej_tuo added 17:00 - Jan 13 GET OUT JEWELL YOU SWORD FIGHTER .... YOU ARE RUINING MY CLUB JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT
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saffronblue added 17:09 - Jan 13 I think Tommy will learn along side Sonko and I would like PJ to keep the pair of them together. Carson in for Murphy and Ellington can just go away. Leadbitter should never take a dead piece again as his delivery is always awful. Hopefull Bullard is fit enough to take his place
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Mark added 17:28 - Jan 13 I dread the thought of a half-injured/ill Leadbitter or Bullard playing against a sharp-passing Blackpool side, playing in front of our weak defence. Where are the reinforcements indeed! After all the scouting that we seemed to be doing, I hoped we would enter January ready to set up some deals.
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fourth added 18:06 - Jan 13 Saffroblue Thats near right
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:39 - Jan 13 are there any planned protestests for AFTER the game tomorrow, i like the idea of the north stand lads waving (rubbish) sacks, but don't want anything to detract from us at least trying to get 3pts. A long and vocal jewell out could well be the tipping point that c-leg was referring to.
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billlm added 19:15 - Jan 13 if i was manager id play edwards and cresswell as wing backs and have 3 centre halfs like the promotion side oops cant can we we dont have 3 centre halfs
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Suffolk_n_Good added 19:18 - Jan 13 My proposed team for tomorrow: GK - Crazee LB - AARON CRESSWELL!, CB - PA Rob Chandler, CB - Kit Man, RB - Receptionist ML - Coach Driver, MC - Club Photograper, MC - Brenner Woolley, MR - Bluey STR - Tea Lady, STR - ? (Up for grabs!!!!) (If you fancy a game please e-mail the club, a ramdom draw will take place 10 mins before kick off!!!)
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terry_butchers_twin added 19:20 - Jan 13 Tommy Smith probably wants to play for the club which is more than can be said for some of the others. He is still learning but has played in the World Cup. Lets give him a chance as my 'brother' would have done!!!
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casanovacrow added 19:32 - Jan 13 billm - hmmmm wing backs with Ainsley Sonko and Smith in central defence?
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Michael11 added 20:03 - Jan 13 Hope hes injured we might actually get a result if he is! Martin, Drury, Hyam and Carson in midfield for me
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Kampo added 20:10 - Jan 13 I'm sweating on his fitness too. If leadbitter is injured we are lost, fantastic talent. Maybe he's caught Jimmy's man flu?
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pokemonfoottball added 20:15 - Jan 13 Perfect team
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