Town manager Roy Keane will wait until tomorrow morning before picking his team for the home game against Derby with David Norris, Tom Eastman and Grant Leadbitter all doubts. The Blues boss is able to call on defenders Mark Kennedy and Darren O’Dea after injury.
Keane says he has players pushing for involvement if the doubtful trio miss out: "Tom Eastman, who has been doing very well for us, had to come off with a knock to his hip on Saturday. Grant Leadbitter’s got a problem with his hamstring and another couple of lads are carrying knocks.
"David Norris is a doubt for tomorrow night with his ankle injury. But we’ve other lads ready to come in, people like Andros Townsend, who has been training really well. Darren O’Dea’s had a few days training with us and then there’s Mark Kennedy, so we’ll be OK in terms of cover.”
Skipper Norris and defender Eastman, who has been playing at right-back in recent weeks, are rated at 50/50 and appear more significant concerns than Leadbitter.
Mark Kennedy is over his hamstring problem, while Darren O’Dea has made swift progress after his recent knee operation but Keane feels they may need a bit longer before making their first team returns: "I think if they were sitting here they’d say they were available for tomorrow night, but we’re training in the morning and I’ll make a late decision on that.
"My gut feeling is that I’d rather them have another few days’ training and get ready for Saturday, but it will be dictated by how lads like David Norris and Tom Eastman come through training in the morning and whether we have to mix the back four up a little bit.
"The players are off today, we did a recovery session yesterday and we’ll have a very light one tomorrow. We’ve no need to be rushed into a decision today, we’ll look at it tomorrow morning.”
Keane says no decision has yet been made on whether O'Dea will be fit enough to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly with Norway next week.
Alan Quinn has been joining in light training sessions as he recovers from the groin injury which has kept him out of action since pre-season, but the former Ireland international is still another couple of weeks away from contention.
Colin Healy has developed a groin problem on his way back from a hamstring injury but like Quinn - and probably O'Dea and Kennedy - could be involved in a behind closed doors reserves friendly with Norwich which has been arranged for next week.