x

Town Changes Unlikely - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Joe Royle has virtually a full squad to pick from for the trip to Gillingham on Saturday. Only Pablo Couñago and Chris Makin remain on the injury list, while Chris Bart-Williams will be rested after coming through Wednesday's reserve game.

Makin will not be available until next season after his hip operation, but Couñago is close to fitness, having picked up a slight groin strain after getting over his hamstring problem.

Royle says that Bart-Williams managed the reserves' win against Fulham with only a minimal reaction: "Chris came through 90 minutes and his back was a little sore, but he is a lot better for the injection.

"He will not be involved this weekend, he'll be having a weekend's intensive training. He'll train Friday, Saturday and possibly even Sunday, so that if and when we do need him — and that will be sooner rather than later — he'll be better for it. I was delighted to see him get through the game last night.”

Royle is likely to field an unchanged side from the one which beat Sunderland: "I would be daft to say that there will be too many changes from Monday. But there are players pressing; Bam Bam's ready, Drissa did well in the reserves and Georges never lets us down, whether he plays in midfield or at the back.

"Dean Bowditch has had a rest, which I wanted to give him, but I haven't forgotten how well he did with his movement and with his partnership with Darren Bent, and he's also waiting for his chance.

"Martijn Reuser probably thought he was unlucky not to start on Monday having done so well when he came on at Rotherham. There are nice problems at the moment, but there won't be too many changes.

"We're a decent run, five wins in six and we want to continue that until the end of the season.”

Royle holds unpleasant memories for Gills' fans, his Manchester City side famously coming from two goals behind late on to beat the Gills in a play-off at Wembley in 1999. The Town boss is expecting a reaction from the home fans: "I think you'll hear me get quite a unique welcome!

"The play-offs are a lottery, I've never liked them, but I don't make the rules and if we benefit by the rules I'll be happy.”

The Town boss had Andy Hessenthaler's side watched in their victory over Walsall: "They played very well last week, Steve McCall saw them and has come back with a very positive report from their point of view. They got a 3-0 victory when they needed to win.

"It's never an easy place to go, and they've beaten us here already once this year, although I'm still scratching my head as to how. But they did beat us 4-3 when we were in a good run at the time, so they can't be taken lightly, not that we'd take anyone lightly.”

The Gills have a number of players on the sidelines at present. Mark Saunders and Rod Wallace have ankle problems, David Perpetuini and Tommy Johnson knee injuries, and Darius Henderson and Nyron Nosworthy troublesome groins. Town summer target John Hills recently returned from an Achilles knock.

Andy Hessenthaler has added keeper Steve Banks to his squad from Wimbledon, the former Bolton man previously playing for Gillingham between 1993 and 1995.

Saturday's referee is Premiership official Paul Durkin, never a popular man with Blues' fans since harshly red-carding John Wark in a derby at Carrow Road in 1995.

However, he improved his credibility in Suffolk when he awarded Town a last minute penalty in last season's 1-1 home draw with Norwich City.

So far in 2003/04 the carrot-topped whistler, who hails from Portland in Dorset, has shown 81 yellow cards and two red in 32 games.

Squad: Bent, Bowditch, Davis, Diallo, Elliott, Kuqi, Magilton, McGreal, Miller, Naylor, Price, Reuser, Richards, Santos, Westlake, Wilnis and Wright.

What to read next:

Walle Egeli: In the Long-Term I'll Be a Number 10
Town forward Sindre Walle Egeli says he sees himself playing in a more central role longer-term at the Blues under manager Kieran McKenna.
Town Visit Swansea Aiming For Repeat of QPR Clinical Finishing
Town visit Swansea City on Saturday afternoon targeting back-to-back away victories following the 4-1 win at QPR a week ago and with manager Kieran McKenna looking for his side to repeat the clinical finishing from their visit to Loftus Road.
Hallgrimsson: No Reason to Doubt Szmodics's Commitment
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson says he has no doubts regarding Blues forward Sammie Szmodics’s commitment to the Boys in Green, despite press and social media criticism after the 30-year-old was forced out of the squad for a third time this year ahead of the October internationals.
[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
McKenna: Players From the U21s Training With Us Regularly
Blues manager Kieran McKenna has been impressed by Town’s U21s, who currently top Premier League 2, and says some members of the group have been training with his squad on a regular basis.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
McKenna: Mixed Start, But Table Will Change a Lot
Blues manager Kieran McKenna admits he would have liked his side to have had more points at this stage, with the season going into its third international break following Saturday’s trip to Swansea, but isn’t taking too much notice of a Championship table which he believes will change a lot over the weeks and months to come.
McKenna: Disappointed to Lose Burgess
Blues manager Kieran McKenna admits he was disappointed to lose centre-half Cameron Burgess in the summer, the Australian international having left Portman Road after four very successful years to join Saturday’s opponents Swansea City.
McKenna: Absolutely Loads More to Come From Walle Egeli
Town boss Kieran McKenna says he’s not surprised by how well 19-year-old Norwegian Sindre Walle Egeli has settled into English football but believes there’s “absolutely loads” to come from the forward.
McKenna: Matusiwa-Philogene Spat Put to Bed
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says the on-pitch argument between Azor Matusiwa and Jaden Philogene during the second half of Tuesday’s 1-1 home draw with Watford has been “put to bed” and has praised the start the Dutchman has made to his Town career.