x

Three Miss Out - Ipswich Town News

Town will be without Alan Lee, Chris Casement and Ian Westlake when they face Derby County in this season's final home game on Saturday. Westlake has returned to training after his ankle injury but is not included in the 17-man squad.

Lee pulled a hamstring and broke his nose in Monday's 2-1 defeat at Watford. Casement hurt his ankle in the Brighton game but could be back in contention for a place in the squad for the final match of the season at Plymouth a week on Sunday.

Other than long-term absentees Sam Parkin and Gavin Williams, Town have no other injury concerns ahead of the Rams' visit. Parkin is expected to be included in the reserves next week.

Assistant manager Willie Donachie, standing in for Joe Royle at the regular pre-match press conference, is keen for the Blues to get back to winning ways after going eight matches without a victory. However, despite the results, he says has been too displeased with the effort put in: "People have been saying all season that we're in a transition with a lot of young players. Recently we've come up against experienced teams and physically it's been men against boys.

"But there was only really the first half against Watford when I've been really disappointed. The rest of the games I've felt they all tried their best and given what they could and that's all you can ask for. And even in the second half at Watford, after being particularly poor, they showed a lot of character, came back, worked hard and almost got something out of the game.

"I don't think it's anybody going off on their own or not being there for us, it's just the way things are. Our stronger players have been out injured and our young players aren't quite ready.

"But it's the only way to learn. It's easier if you have only one or two young lads in a team, but they are all getting valuable experience."

Skipper Jim Magilton will make the final appearance of his seven-year stay at Town and could be handed a start in the centre of the midfield, alongside either Owen Garvan or Jimmy Juan. The Frenchman might also be playing his final home match with the loanee from Monaco's future very much in the balance. Norwegian Vemund Brekke Skard is likely to drop out of the line-up after making his debut at Watford last week.

Matt Richards will probably continue on the left of midfield and Darren Currie is a likely starter on the right with the Blues expected to return to Joe Royle's preferred 4-4-2 after last week's 4-3-3 at Watford.

Donachie says Royle is yet to decide whether to recall keeper Shane Supple or stick with Lewis Price. The Wales international came back into the starting line-up at Watford on Monday after Supple was on the end of a number of heavy challenges in the Brighton match. Both are fit and awaiting Royle's decision.

Ahead of the keeper, Richard Naylor will continue at centre-half unless he is required to replace Alan Lee up front. Fabian Wilnis will play alongside Jason De Vos if Naylor is up front, with Sito coming for him at right-back. Jay McEveley, who like Magilton will also play his final home game, will compete with Scott Barron for the left-back spot.

Nicky Forster will maintain his place up front having scored two goals in two games since his return from injury. The ex-Reading man will be partnered by Danny Haynes, Dean Bowditch or perhaps Richard Naylor.

Derby are currently managed by former Town youth coach Terry Westley who is in charge in a caretaker capacity until the end of the season. Westley's previous visit to Portman Road as a manager brought a rare victory for his Luton Town side in October 1995.

Westley will be without central defender Darren Moore who is suspended, while on-loan striker Kevin Lisbie, anti-hero of the East Anglian derby at Portman Road earlier in the season, may miss out due to a persistent hamstring problem. Another loan striker, Spurs' Mounir El Hamdaoui, is expected to be out of action for the rest of the season due to a groin injury.

Veteran defender Alan Wright has also been ruled out for the remainder of 2005/06 due to a hamstring problem, while Paul Boetien has a calf injury.

Saturday's referee is Lee Probert from Gloucestershire who has shown 112 yellow and six red cards in 37 games this season. His last Town match was the 2-2 draw at Stoke in January.

Squad: Bowditch, Currie, De Vos, Magilton, McEveley, Forster, Garvan, Haynes, Juan, Naylor, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito, Skard, Supple, Wilnis.

What to read next:

McKenna: New Coach Stanislas Comes Highly Recommended
Town manager Kieran McKenna has spoken about the additions of new first-team coach Junior Stanislas and set-piece analyst Michele Aragona.
McKenna: Young Will Bring Experience, Competitiveness and Edge
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says new signing Ashley Young can give the club different things in different areas, among them his experience, competitiveness and his edge.
Hirst: I Thought We Played Really Well, But Aberdeen Gave Us a Massive Challenge
Town striker George Hirst was pleased to add to his pre-season goals tally during the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McKenna: Philogene Very Good Tonight, His Off the Ball Work Was Outstanding
Town manager Kieran McKenna was delighted with Jaden Philogene’s performance in the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McKenna: We Got What We Wanted From the Game
Town boss Kieran McKenna said he got what he wanted from the 3-1 friendly win at Aberdeen and believes his side is in general on the right track.
McKenna: Nothing in the Air Regarding Omari's Situation
Town boss Kieran McKenna says there’s “nothing in the air” regarding Omari Hutchinson’s future with the forward having remained behind in Suffolk to train while the Blues were in Aberdeen for this evening’s 3-1 friendly victory.
Aberdeen 1-3 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Jaden Philogene scored twice and George Hirst once as Town beat Aberdeen 3-1 in their friendly at Pittodrie. Philogene stroked home from close range after good work from Sammie Szmodics and Hirst on 28, then Hirst added a second with a predatory rebound 10 minutes later, before Philogene netted the third just before the hour with Aberdeen pulling one back in the 79th minute remaining and the Blues having replaced their entire starting XI.
Aberdeen 0-2 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
Goals from Jaden Philogene and George Hirst have given the Blues a 2-0 half-time lead in this evening’s friendly against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Strong Blues Team Starts at Aberdeen
Town have named a strong line-up for this evening’s friendly against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (KO 7.30pm, live on TownTV).
Luongo Completes Millwall Move
Millwall have confirmed the signing of former Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo on a one-year deal.