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Duo Not Yet Ruled Out of Colchester Trip
Duo Not Yet Ruled Out of Colchester Trip
Friday, 4th Apr 2008 11:01

Town are still to rule out midfielder David Norris and striker Shefki Kuqi ahead of Saturday's clash with Colchester United. Boss Jim Magilton is unlikely to make too many changes to the side which drew 0-0 with QPR a week ago.

Kuqi pulled a hamstring in the home victory over Charlton, while Norris limped off earlier in that game with a heel problem which had been affecting him for some while. Both players have been making progress and will be assessed later today, but appear more likely to be subs than starters if they are included in the squad making the short trip to Layer Road.

Magilton has hinted that he will largely stick with the side which drew a blank last week, which would see Stephen Bywater remain in goal, Danny Simpson at right-back, Sito on the left and Jason De Vos and Alex Bruce in the centre. Richard Naylor is out for the season having undergone neck surgery earlier in the week.

In midfield, Owen Garvan and Velice Sumulikoski are likely to continue their central partnership with Alan Quinn on the left.

Gavin Williams may well keep his place on the right after his surprise recall last week. The Welshman, who earlier in the season turned down a contract extension, now says he is "more than willing” to sign a deal which would keep him at Portman Road beyond his current terms which are up in June 2009.

Magilton appears to want to see more from the former Hereford, Yeovil and West Ham man before committing to a new deal: "On his day and when fully fit and flying he is one of the best players in his position at this level, but we have not seen enough and it is a travesty that he has played so few games.”

One man who seems highly unlikely to be offered a new deal is Sylvain Legwinski, who has all but disappeared in recent weeks after a season on the periphery. Last season's Player of the Year, now 34, is out of contract in the summer and seems unlikely to be offered new terms.

Liam Trotter, Gary Roberts and Tommy Miller, who is over a minor groin problem, will vie for a place amongst the subs. Jon Walters remains on the sidelines but it making a swift recovery from his knee surgery, although no date has yet been set for his return.

Up front, Danny Haynes will almost certainly continue to partner Alan Lee with Jordan Rhodes an option from the bench, particularly if Kuqi is not yet ready for a return to action. Dean Bowditch is over the groin problem which forced him to miss last week's game with QPR, while Pablo Couñago serves the second game of his three-match ban for his red card at Scunthorpe.

Magilton says Colchester have often deserved more from games than they have got this season: "Geraint Williams has been very unlucky because some of their performances have been better than results suggest.


"We know that from our game with them at Portman Road. For an hour they were winning and they played very well on the night.

"The very least they deserved was a draw, but we hung in there and came good in the end.

"Even so, I was very impressed with them and I have been every time I've seen them this season.

"They play a very attacking brand of football - very much in the philosophy of their manager - and they're always capable of scoring goals, either from midfield or from the likes of Clive Platt and Kevin Lisbie.

"If they were to get relegated I'd be very sad because if we're in the Championship we want them in there with us - it can only be a good thing for East Anglia.

"Derby matches are the first ones fans look for when the fixtures come out so we enjoy being in the same division as the likes of Colchester and Norwich."

Williams, a former Blue who left Town for Colchester in the summer of 1998, six months before Magilton joined from Sheffield Wednesday, says he wants to give U's fans something to cheer after a disappointing season: "We want to put a smile on the fans' faces tomorrow.

"It's been a tough year all round for them and everyone at the club. The fans have stayed with myself and the players and been very, very good.

"They have been very fair - they can't be happy with the position as we are not happy with the position we are in the league.

"There have been a lot of people who have worked very hard and not got the reward they should have.

"A lot of people have struggled with injuries and not had the seasons they would have wanted."

Williams has a major injury concern regarding frontman Clive Platt, a scorer in the game at Portman Road earlier in the season. The ex-MK Dons man has a back injury and looks set to be replaced by Scott Vernon.

Congolese midfielder Medy Elito is also a doubt with a calf problem, while Luke Guttridge could return after a spell on the sidelines with a neck injury.

Veteran frontman Teddy Sheringham (foot) and former Chelsea full-back Danny Granville (groin) are both still unavailable, along with defender Pat Baldwin, who is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury which requires surgery.

Town and Colchester have rarely met throughout their histories despite U's fans viewing the Blues as their big rivals. Town have won nine games between the sides (eight in the league), four have been draws (four) and Colchester have been victorious on just three occasions (three).

Earlier in the season, the Blues won 3-1 at Portman Road with Jon Walters, Liam Trotter and Danny Haynes on the scoresheet for the Blues and Platt for the U's.

Last season's game at Layer Road ended in a 1-0 win for the U's, although Town had what appeared to be a perfectly good Jon Macken goal ruled out just after half-time, Karl Duguid having put the home side ahead early on.

Colchester, currently bottom and 13 points from safety, will be relegated if Town win what is the third last game at Layer Road. It would be the Essex club's first relegation since they dropped into the Conference 18 years ago.

It is likely that home supporters will stage some sort of protest against the recently announced pricing structure for their first season at the new ground. Fans are unhappy that match day prices will rise from the current £19 to £26, while a season ticket costing £360 this season will increase to £508 at Cuckoo Farm. You're certain to be able to read more on this at the excellent ClubFanzine Colchester site, The U'sual.

Saturday's referee is Andy D'Urso, one of the least popular officials with Town supporters. The Billericay-based ref has shown 90 yellow and five red cards in 37 games this season. His last Town match was the utterly spineless performance during the Blues' 2-1 home loss to Watford.

Likely squad: Bywater, Colgan, Simpson, Sito, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Wilnis, Garvan, Sumulikoski, Quinn, Williams, Norris, Roberts, Miller, Trotter, Lee, Haynes, Bowditch, Rhodes, Kuqi.


Photo: Action Images



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