Boss Jim Magilton has choices regarding both his formation and his personnel ahead of Saturday's trip to Cardiff City. Former Cardiff striker Alan Lee's one-match ban means Town face a reshuffle when they take on the third-placed Bluebirds.

Magilton could continue using a 4-4-2 formation, recalling Jon Macken or Danny Haynes alongside Billy Clarke, or alternatively the Town manager could opt for the five-man midfield employed at Burnley last month.

Macken might be seen as a better option as a lone striker, despite having so far failed to impress during his loan spell from Crystal Palace.

The availability of Walton, in addition to long-term absentees Owen Garvan and Gavin Williams, gives Magilton plenty of options in midfield, could swing his thinking in favour of the 4-5-1 formation which was used at Burnley last month.

Walton or Williams could join Sylvain Legwinski and Garvan in the centre of the midfield. Williams might instead be used as a wide man, meaning one of Matt Richards or Gary Roberts drop out.

Dan Harding is also back after a one-match ban and will slot into the left-back role, while Alex Bruce will continue at right-back and Richard Naylor in the centre of the defence. Neither Fabian Wilnis nor Sito are included in the squad of 18 which does feature youngsters Chris Casement and Sammy Moore, both of whom can play at right-back, although Moore is primarily a midfielder.

Wales international Lewis Price will continue between the sticks with Shane Supple on the bench.

Magilton wants his side to take control from the off: “I'll be looking for us to make a high-tempo start to the game and to keep it going all the way through.

“We started well against Burnley then lost our way slightly, but we did it again in the second half and we would have won that game, rather than need a late penalty to draw it, had we taken our chances.”

Magilton has added the thoughts of Colchester boss Geraint Williams to the club's own scouting reports, the U's having drawn 0-0 at Ninian Park a week ago.

Goals have been Cardiff's big problem of late, having started the season as the early pace-setters. Dave Jones's side have failed to score in their last four games.

Wales international midfielder Paul Parry is likely to be out of action for around six weeks with a thigh strain, but Dutch central defender Glenn Loovens is expected to be available again after a groin strain but will probably have to settle for a place on the bench.

Former Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail is suspended, while ex-Manchester City man Willo Flood is out with a thigh problem and loanee from Arsenal Kerrea Gilbert is out until the end of the year with a shoulder injury. Former Wolves midfield player Kevin Cooper is expected to make his first start of 2006/07.

Jones, who was briefly Jim Magilton's boss at Southampton, has revealed that his pre-match planning has recently been hit by flooding at the university facility where his squad train: “The training situation has been incredibly frustrating for the 18 months that I've been here. A club this size should have its own training ground.

“It seems players have been sold in the past, but that money's never been re-invested and it can't be right.

"You're working really with one hand tied behind your back the whole time. It's not ideal to come in and not know where you're going to be training. Without looking for excuses, I think it's one of the reasons for our form.

"For three weeks we haven't been able to get on the training ground and do the work we want."

Saturday's referee is Andy Hall from the West Midlands, who has shown 57 yellow and four red cards in 16 games this season. Coincidentally Hall's last Town game was the trip to Ninian Park in November 2004, which the Blues won 3-2 (Miller pen, Santos, Bart-Williams) and in which Chris Bart-Williams was the only Town yellow card amongst a total of six cautions.

Squad: Bruce, Casement, Clarke, De Vos, Garvan, Harding, Haynes, Legwinski, Macken, Moore, Naylor, Peters, Price, Richards, Roberts, Supple, Walton, Williams.

Photo: Action Images

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