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.