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Walton Misses Out
Walton Misses Out
Friday, 22nd Sep 2006 13:26

Town will be without midfielder Simon Walton when they face Sunderland at Portman Road on Saturday, while Sylvain Legwinski and Gavin Williams are considered doubts. Better news is that Fabian Wilnis is over his thigh problem.

Boss Jim Magilton says that Walton's gashed shin and hamstring injuries will keep him out of the game, barring a miracle: “Simon is a major doubt and it's unlikely that he will play at the weekend.

"He took a nasty knock on his shin at Birmingham, but it's the hamstring that is the main concern.

"He's desperate to play, but at this stage unless he has a great recovery, it looks unlikely."

Wilnis has trained all week having missed the Birmingham game after a recurrence of his thigh injury. Williams has a back injury which is the root of the groin and hamstring problems he has suffered all season and Legwinski has a hamstring injury.

Boss Jim Magilton has decisions to make all over the pitch. In goal he has to choose between Lewis Price, who made a bad error at Birmingham last week, and Shane Supple.

In defence, Alex Bruce is again missing, this time due to the suspension triggered after he reached five bookings, while Wilnis's return means Magilton will have to choose between the Dutchman and Sito. Richard Naylor will continue at central defence in place of Bruce.

The make up of the midfield is anyone's guess at this stage with Walton out and Legwinski and Williams doubts. Williams was replaced at St Andrews by Darren Currie and the former Brighton man is very much in Jim Magilton's thoughts after an improved display against Birmingham.

Martin Brittain could also be in line for a first start for the Blues with Mark Noble likely to play a central role in Walton's absence. Danny Haynes and Dean Bowditch could also come into consideration for wide midfield roles. Perhaps surprisingly, Matt Richards is not included in the squad.

Up front, Magilton is likely to continue with Alan Lee and Jon Macken with Billy Clarke probably taking over from one of them in the second half.

Magilton says the visit of Sunderland is another chance for his side to show how far they have come: “Saturday's game is obviously massive for us. It will be a huge test of character for the players but I have every faith in them.

“Nobody outside the camp really fancied our chances at Birmingham and we proved them wrong, but Sunderland is another tough assignment.

“My players have applied themselves really well and my belief in them is reinforced every day, but we are not getting too carried away.”

Magilton and new Sunderland boss Roy Keane are both in the running for the September Manager of the Month award after disappointing starts to the season. Keane has been impressed with progress at Portman Road: “Ipswich made a poor start but in the last few weeks, Jim has done very well and has turned things round.

"I have played at Ipswich many times and they try to play football the right way, so it should be a good game tomorrow."

Keane will hope to be able to call on central defensive pair Stanislav Varga (hip) and Kenny Cunningham (groin). Striker Jon Stead is rated 50/50 due to a thigh problem.

The Black Cats will give a full debut to Dwight Yorke but are short of strikers with David Connolly (thigh), Stephen Elliott (ankle) and former Town target Daryl Murphy (hamstring) all ruled out. Stephen Wright (ankle) and Steve Caldwell (knee) are also sidelined.

Former Blue Tommy Miller has not been in the Sunderland first team since Keane took over as manager at the Stadium of Light and could be on his way back to Portman Road on a free transfer in January.

Saturday's referee is Mick Russell from Hertfordshire who has shown 10 yellow and one red card in seven games this season. Russell's last Town game was the 3-2 home victory over Coventry in January 2005.

All referees will be wearing black armbands this weekend after the death of refereeing coach Peter Foakes, a former Football League referee, earlier this week.

Squad: Barron, Bowditch, Brittain, Clarke, Currie, De Vos, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Legwinski, Macken, Naylor, Noble, Price, Sito, Supple, Williams, Wilnis.


Photo: Action Images



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