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Two Face Fitness Tests - Ipswich Town News

Finidi George and John McGreal both face fitness tests before Town's match against Grimsby at Blundell Park on Tuesday night (KO 7.45pm). McGreal picked-up a knee problem during Sunday's match at Wimbledon while the impressive George came off with a groin strain.

Town are definitely without Jim Magilton, Fabian Wilnis (both hamstring), Hermann Hreidarsson (back) and Darren Bent (knee) at Grimsby while Darren Ambrose played through Sunday's game after having an injection but Burley expects him to be fine.

Burley says his squad is being tested by the number of injuries: "We're really down to the bare bones as such. Youngsters like Matt Richards are on the bench and Westlake and Bloomfield are in the squad. But, it's our third game in five days, a hectic programme to say the least, and sometimes when you've got that many games you'll pick up injuries."

The Town boss has been impressed with his side's recent performances: "We've been very pleased with the last two games. Two clean sheets, worked very well as a team and played some good football. The only area of concern is that we haven't converted the clear-cut chances that we have created. Which is frustrating at times as there is no doubt in the last two games there should have been at least three or four goals in it."

George Burley's Town sides have not always done too well against Grimsby, a fact acknowledged by the manager: "I don't think we've got a great record there, I don't remember too many wins. We've got to continue in the same manner as we've been doing. Wimbledon wasn't the easiest game to go to, but there ought to have been two or three goals in it. That was the only disappointment."

Grimsby themselves have a number of injuries ahead of Town's visit. Almost certainly out are defender Steve Chettle, player-manager Paul Groves and John McDermott. Alan Pouton is facing a race against time after suffering a dead-leg in the weekend game against Reading.

In addition to those, Darren Barnard and Stuart Campbell both picked up knocks in the Royals game. Stevie Croudson and Steve Livingstone are both long-term absentees.

Squad: Marshall, Pullen, Makin, Clapham, McGreal, Brown, Gaardsøe, Holland, T Miller, Wright, Ambrose, George, Couñago, M Bent, D Bent, Armstrong, Richards, Bloomfield and Westlake.

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