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Westlake a Derby Doubt - Ipswich Town News

Midfielder Ian Westlake has emerged as a new injury concern ahead of Sunday's crucial East Anglian derby at Carrow Road (noon). The youngster missed training on Friday due to a dead leg which he picked up in Tuesday's game at Stoke.

Town boss Joe Royle says that the left-sided player had been expected to be back in action by now: "We thought he'd train today but he's still not right and at this stage he is doubtful.

"He was sore after the game on Tuesday, but nothing more than that. However, a lump has come up in his thigh. We didn't expect any problems with it but he tried training today and he's still sore. We'll see how he is tomorrow.

"I haven't ruled him out and Westy will be in the team if he's fit. The lad's done very well recently. He's not only scored goals but he gives us great running power on the left side, and he's a natural left footer. It would be a loss but we have contingency plans.”

One option if Westlake doesn't make it is to bring Martijn Reuser back into the side. The Dutchman has returned from Holland after attending his grandfather's funeral earlier in the week.

John McGreal is definitely out due to his knee ligament injury while Chris Bart-Williams continues to be sidelined with his back problem. The former Charlton man has had an x-ray which showed nothing serious and the club are confident that he will be fit enough for involvement next week.

Jim Magilton is OK after suffering a dead leg during the trip to the Britannia Stadium. Tommy Miller is also included despite having had wisdom tooth problems of late.

Long-term injury victim Chris Makin will see a specialist again next week with the club uncertain what to expect. Makin managed just 45 minutes of the reserve game at Coventry on Wednesday but prior to that had responded well to a painkilling injection.

Manager Royle says: "We don't know which direction the specialist is going to recommend. We had originally though he might need surgery but the reaction to the injection would probably make surgery doubtful now. We can't really see any more until he's seen the hip specialist next week.”

Town include youngsters Scott Mitchell and Dean Bowditch in the squad, Bowditch having set-up both Town's winning goals after coming on as a substitute in the same game last season.

Norwich's Darren Huckerby is seen by many as the Canaries' biggest threat but Royle says he won't be detailing one of his players to purely take care of the former Manchester City man: "Very, very seldom in 20 years as a manager have I man-marked anybody. I've made contingency plans for people but not man-marked.

"Even the other night we've lost 2-0 but dominated the game. I don't see any reason why we can't take the game to Norwich.

"I know Darren, I signed him for Manchester City, and he's had a big impact at Norwich, but we won't be man-marking him.”

Royle felt that his side could have got more out of the game at Stoke on Tuesday: "We haven't even been caught on the break the other night, we can't use that as an excuse. All I can say is that we were very close to a good performance.

"We dominated the game and had all the possession that counts. But two errors, one on our behalf and one from one of the linesmen, have cost us dearly. We didn't do an awful lot wrong.”

Norwich's only injury concern is skipper Adam Drury. The former Peterborough man picked up a hip knock during their midweek game with West Brom. Jim Brennan is likely to move back from midfield if Drury doesn't make it. Mathias Svensson will probably start instead of veteran striker Iwan Roberts.

Sunday's referee is Mark Clattenburg from Northumberland. He has shown 79 yellow cards and one red in 25 games this season but has not previously officiated a Town game.

Despite being a noon kick-off, the game is not live on Sky. There is also no Anglia highlights package due to a lack of slots for regional programmes on Sunday afternoon.

Squad: Davis, Price, Wilnis, Richards, Mitchell, Santos, Naylor, Diallo, Magilton, Wright, Miller, Westlake, Reuser, Kuqi, Bent, Couñago, Bowditch.

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