Town could have striker Jon Walters back in action next week. The striker turned midfielder had initially been expected to miss the rest of the season due after rupturing ankle ligaments at Wolves.

Boss Jim Magilton told the club site: "Jon might be back with us for next week, we will see how he goes.

"He is a quick healer and is making great progress and we will look for him to push on next week and see where it goes."

Town are waiting on skipper Gareth McAuley ahead of Saturday's trip to Sheffield United, the central defender having come off with a hamstring problem while playing for Northern Ireland last night.

The former Leicester City man will undergo a scan this afternoon before a decision is made on whether he is likely to be available for the visit to Bramall Lane, although it seems unlikely given the apparent seriousness of the problem when he left the field last night.

Magilton has hinted that Alex Bruce could come back into his thoughts, although a partnership of Pim Balkestein and Iván Campo seems more likely.

David Wright has a has a hamstring strain but has trained, as has Moritz Volz, who is back in action after undergoing groin surgery. Tommy Miller is also training despite suffering a dead leg during the Watford match.

The club are still waiting to hear from Spurs about loanee Giovani Dos Santos, who looks likely to miss Saturday's game due to the groin problem he picked up in the game against the Hornets.

Town are definitely without Luciano Civelli, who is out of action until January 2010, while Jordan Rhodes has had surgery to repair his broken metatarsal and is out for the season.

Central defender Tommy Smith is back in training and may play a reserve game before the end of the season.

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