Town have doubts over defenders Damien Delaney and David Wright ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Blackpool. Delaney injured an ankle in the game against QPR, while Wright required stitches to a cut foot at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day. The Blues are already without the suspended Jon Stead.
Delaney has become an established member of the Town defence in recent weeks and despite manager Roy Keane planning to field a full strength side at Bloomfield Road, it’s unlikely a risk will be taken if there are any concerns regarding his fitness.
Keane has three players to choose from as replacements if the ex-QPR man fails to make it. Tommy Smith has been on the bench in recent weeks and looks the Irishman’s probable replacement, although the recent New Zealand recruit is set for a loan spell, so might not necessarily be risked.
Pim Balkestein is also left-sided and was recalled from Brentford last week, while Alex Bruce is the most experienced option having overcome his recent groin injury.
David Wright could return at left-back if his foot has healed sufficiently having required stitches after the Palace game, although Jaime Peters impressed in that role against QPR and may well keep his place in the side even if the former Wigan and Crewe man is fit.
Liam Rosenior and Gareth McAuley are likely to continue in the other two defensive roles. Arran Lee-Barrett will keep his place in goal with new signing Brian Murphy not available for selection until Monday.
In midfield, Grant Leadbitter could be partnered in the centre by the newly returned David Norris or Jack Colback, who has been given permission to play for Town in the FA Cup by Sunderland, while Owen Garvan may well return on the left.
Jon Walters will be on the right after one of his best performances of the season against QPR. Carlos Edwards is likely to drop to the bench after a couple of quiet displays recently.
Up front, Jon Stead starts his four-match ban, while Kevin Lisbie is on loan at Colchester until after the weekend.
Stern John, who has extended his loan spell and has been given permission to play in the FA Cup by Palace, will probably be amongst the starters with Tamás Priskin perhaps getting an opportunity to impress, having rarely featured in the first half of the season. Connor Wickham will also be looking for further involvement having done well from the bench in recent games, while Pablo Couñago is also likely to be amongst the subs.
Luciano Civelli, who is expected back some time around the end of January, and Richard Wright, who has been given permission to spend time away in Dubai and isn’t likely to return until the end of March, are long-term absentees with knee injuries. Ben Thatcher has also had knee problems but appears very firmly out of Keane’s plans at the present time.
Keane says that unlike one or two other managers, he is looking for a cup run for his side: "We want to try and win. We’ve got one or two injury concerns but I go into every game trying to win.
"The FA Cup’s still important and my mentality’s always the same — we’ll try to win the game. That’s in our make up, hopefully it’s in everyone’s make up.
"It’s going to be a tough game. When they played down here three weeks ago they played some good stuff, they kept a lot of possession, had some good chances themselves and we’ll have to play well if we’re going to get a good result at Blackpool on Saturday.
"It’s the FA Cup, a great competition. We all love it. I’ve had some good times in it, some bad times and I want to win on Saturday.”
Keane is confident that his Town team is making progress: "I think we’re getting there. We’ve had to be patient the last few months, but I’m getting a lot more confident with the group I’ve got, and the staff. I’ve should have been sussing everybody a bit quicker, but we’re getting there, trust me.”
Town flew down on New Year’s Day with Blackpool confident the match will go ahead despite below zero conditions, having finally covered the Bloomfield Road pitch on Thursday evening.
Former Blue Billy Clarke is out with a knee injury, while Hameur Bouazza is at the African Nations Cup with Algeria. Midfielder David Vaughan is back from the one-match ban he received for his red card in the league game at Town. Defender Alex Baptiste is set for a fitness test on a hamstring problem.
Manager Ian Holloway says the Blues were worthy winners of the recent match at Portman Road: "We made a few changes at Ipswich but they were the better team at their place and deserved their victory.
"They are a good team and Roy Keane is a top class manager and someone who I admire. It is going to be a very tough test for us but we are at home and we will be full of confidence after winning last time out."
Historically, Town have won seven games between the sides, seven have been drawn and Blackpool have won two. One of those matches, a 2-0 1978/79 League Cup victory at Bloomfield Road, is the only cup-tie previously played between the clubs.
The most recent game between the sides was three weeks ago when Town won 3-1 with Jon Stead, Jack Colback and Gareth McAuley scoring for the Blues and Ian Evatt netting for the Tangerines. Last season’s league match at Bloomfield Road was won 1-0 by Town, David Norris scoring the goal that led to his controversial celebration.
If Saturday’s game is a draw, the replay will be on Wednesday 13th January (KO 7.45pm) at Portman Road, switched from the usual Tuesday as Town play at Leicester on the previous Sunday. Presumably the match would be played at Bloomfield Road on the same date if it is postponed on Saturday.
Saturday’s referee is Eddie Ilderton from Tyne and Wear who has shown 56 yellow and two red cards in 19 games so far this season. Ilderton’s last Town game was the 3-3 draw at Sheffield United in September when he booked Tamás Priskin and three Blades players.
Squad from: Lee-Barrett, McLoughlin, Rosenior, Peters, D Wright, McAuley, Delaney, Smith, Balkestein, Bruce, Leadbitter, Norris, Colback, Walters, Edwards, Garvan, Quinn, Martin, Healy, John, Couñago, Priskin, Wickham.