x

Williams Back at Preston - Ipswich Town News

Midfielder Gavin Williams returns to the squad for the first time since late January as the Blues travel to take on Preston North End at Deepdale. The Blues are without the suspended Alan Lee, but Jon Walters is back in the squad after missing the Southend game with a hamstring problem.

Williams looks unlikely to be given an immediate recall having gone five weeks without a game. However, the former West Ham man could well play some part from the bench.

Boss Jim Magilton's selection up front will depend on Walters's fitness. If the former Chester man is considered OK, he will probably start either as a lone striker or alongside Danny Haynes. If not, Haynes could get the nod on his own, loanee Franny Jeffers having limped off with a hamstring injury at the weekend.

Magilton could look to make changes in midfield with George O'Callaghan pushing for a recall if a five-man midfield is employed, while Matt Richards could be brought back in place of Gary Roberts on the left.

Despite Fabian Wilnis's return from a hamstring problem, Magilton is likely to stick with his back four of Dan Harding, Jason De Vos, Alex Bruce and David Wright ahead of Lewis Price in goal. Richard Naylor (toe) and Chris Casement (ankle) remain on the sidelines.

Magilton says his side will have to defend better than they did against Southend to avoid falling to a second successive defeat, a result which says was a blow to his squad: "We are all down. We have got to go to Preston and step up. If we defend like we did against Southend we will get beaten again.”

Preston's main injury concern is over star striker David Nugent who received a kick to the back at Hull over the weekend, although manager Paul Simpson, who played alongside Jim Magilton at Oxford, says other unnamed members of his squad are also doubts: "David Nugent has shown a real big improvement over the last few days. When he got off the coach on Saturday night he was in a bad way. Sunday morning when we all came in he was a little bit better and today he is a little better again.

"We have got two or three players who are struggling with little niggly knocks so we will leave it as later as we possibly can before we make decision as to whether they are going to be fit enough to take part in the game."

North End are already without midfielder Paul McKenna due to a hernia problem, winger Simon Whaley, who has an injured foot, defender Youl Mawene with a knee problem and midfield duo Joe Anyinsah and Lewis Neal with cartilage and neck injuries respectively.

Tuesday's referee is Premiership official Mark Clattenburg from Tyne and Wear who has shown a sizeable 125 yellow and three red cards in 33 games so far this season. His last Town game was the 3-1 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road in March 2004 when he red-carded Drissa Diallo, but awarded the Blues a penalty.

Squad: Bruce, Clarke, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Legwinski, O'Callaghan, Peters, Price, Richards, Roberts, Sito, Supple, Walters, Williams, Wilnis, Wright.

What to read next:

Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town - Chatroom Open
Join us in the chatroom to discuss the game as it unfolds with hundreds of other Town fans.
Town Unchanged at Blackburn
Town have named an unchanged side for this afternoon’s game against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town - Predictions
Have you predicted the Blackburn score yet? Eighty three per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this afternoon, 14 per cent a draw and three per cent a home win. The most commonly predicted result is a 2-1 win to Town with Hirst the first scorer but what do you think?
Town Win LMA Performance of the Week Award
Town won the League Managers Association’s Everest Men’s Performance of the Week Award for the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last Friday.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Ismael: A Good Challenge to Test Ourselves Against One of the Championship's Top Sides
Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael says his team’s next step is to record their first home win of the season when the Blues, who he views as one of the top sides in the Championship, visit Ewood Park on Saturday.
Furlong: The Club's Ambition Was the Main Pull
Town defender Darnell Furlong has outlined his reasons for making the summer switch to the Blues from fellow Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
U21s and U18s Both Face League Leaders
Town’s U21s and U18s are both in Saturday action this weekend, at Chelsea and at Arsenal respectively.
Furlong: Just Having Good Players Isn't Enough
Town full-back Darnell Furlong believes the Blues will need more than just a strong squad of players in order to achieve promotion back to the Premier League this season.
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.