Marcus Stewart will hope he can improve what has been a bad weekend by getting himself fit enough for Town’s starting line-up this evening. Stewart not only saw Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink score two goals to go ahead of him in the Premiership goal charts, but old club Huddersfield joined his other former team Bristol Rovers in being relegated.

The striker will not be risked unless 100%, although he has come a long way in the week since he sustained the injury against Charlton. Town boss George Burley said: "We will leave Marcus until as late as possible. He has been improving each day but Monday may have come a bit too quick for him. Of course Marcus will want to play but we will not put him in unless we are satisfied he is all right."

A national newspaper this weekend claimed that Sam Allardyce is after Town keeper Keith Branagan. The Irish international only joined Town from Bolton at the end of last season on loan before signing a short-term deal and then a two-year contract in the summer. With him in contract Town would almost certainly be after a fee.

Last week Town were reported to be watching Norwich’s Andy Marshall. Could George Burley see Marshall as a replacement for Branagan?

Long-term Town target Mark Kerr has said it won’t be a disaster if he doesn’t get a Premiership move in the summer. Town and Leeds have both taken Kerr on trial this season and both were impressed with the Falkirk youngster. Celtic and Rangers have also been linked with the 19-year-old midfielder.

Kerr said: "This season has been a good one for me and it has all happened so quickly. I thought it might take two or three years to attract interest so I have been surprised."

The Scot added that if an offer comes in and is accepted by Falkirk he will talk to the club involved but clearly he doesn’t want to rush into anything.

Alex Totten, Falkirk’s manager, said last week that he was about to offer Kerr an extended deal with his club in order to try to tie him down.

Town’s U17s beat Watford 3-1 on Saturday and now face a play-off semi-final with West Ham next weekend. Before that many of the same players will be in the FA Youth Cup side which faces Arsenal on Wednesday at Portman Road (KO 7pm).

Town’s scorers were Robert Dickinson (penalty), Steve Burton and Ian Westlake.

Meanwhile the U13s played Inter Milan in a friendly and lost 2-0. The Town side did well and created chances but the goal wouldn’t come. Town were asked to host the game by the FA Premier League and was a compliment to the facilities and the work done by Bryan Klug and his coaches at the Academy.

The Town side included Scott Wark, son of Town hero John.

Photo: Action Images

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