Town boss Roy Keane is yet to decide whether to include new loan signing Stern John in his starting XI at Cardiff City on Sunday (KO 3pm). The Blues manager will assess the Trinidadian’s fitness at training today and on Saturday before making a decision.

Keane has no new injury worries, aside from Alex Bruce, who is out for two or three weeks with the groin injury he sustained in last week’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

The Town manager has confirmed that Gareth McAuley will come back into the starting line-up alongside Damien Delaney at the heart of the defence with David Wright and Liam Rosenior set to continue on the left and the right respectively.

In midfield, Keane has been trying to fit in both Jon Walters and Carlos Edwards, despite both preferring to play on the right. Edwards started on the left last week with Walters on the right and despite making a switch around at half-time which saw Walters up front and Edwards back in the right, the Blues could again line-up in the same way.

Keane was pleased with Owen Garvan’s display against Wednesday and the Irish U21 skipper will probably keep his place alongside Grant Leadbitter in the centre.

The Blues boss has shown in the past that he is happy to throw new signings straight into the side, so Stern John may well be included from the off, probably alongside Tamás Priskin, who showed some clever touches last week, despite not looking particularly dangerous in front of goal. Two from Jon Stead, Connor Wickham and Pablo Couñago will be on the bench.

Keane admits he was disappointed to lose loan keeper Asmir Begovic earlier in the week when he was recalled by Portsmouth: “We knew all along that when you’ve got a loan goalkeeper there’s a chance that they could be called back. We’ve got two other good goalkeepers at the club and they’ll get their chance on Sunday.”

The Blues boss says he will decide whether to recall Richard Wright or give Arran Lee-Barrett his Town debut over the next couple of days, but says he’ll have no worries about recalling the former England man: “I’ve not decided which one I’ll go with, but I’ll have no problem putting Wrighty back in. He’s a top keeper, but we felt he needed a break.”

Keane says Cardiff, currently fifth in the table, 14 points ahead of the second-bottom Blues with a home record of won four, drawn two, lost two, will prove a stiff challenge for his side: “Cardiff have been building nicely over the last few years. Dave Jones has got a good squad and a top striker in Michael Chopra and it’s certainly going to be a test for us.

“Our form hasn’t been too bad lately, but again we’ve not been scoring enough goals and that always puts you under pressure. However, we’re looking forward to the game.

“The players are in good spirits, obviously we’ve got a new signing with Stern and we’ve got a new coach, ‘Charlie’ McFarland, the ex-Notts County manager, so we’ve got a couple new faces on the training ground and we’re looking forward to the game.”

The Blues will be making their first appearance at the new Cardiff City Stadium, Keane having made his Town bow in Ninian Park’s final game last season. The match was switched to Sunday at the request of the police due to a rugby international taking place in the city on Saturday.

Cardiff midfielder Stephen McPhail is suffering with a stage one MALT lymphoma and is currently undergoing treatment which will keep him out of action until the new year, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Full-back Kevin McNaughton has a hamstring problem and is likely to miss out on Sunday, but Jay Bothroyd (knee tendon) and Anthony Gerrard (calf strain) are expected to be fit to face the Blues.

Young full-back Adam Matthews, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, is also expected to be fine after a groin injury.

Striker Warren Feeney, whose grandfather Jim played for Town in the 1950s, has joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan, while full-back Tony Capaldi has moved to Leeds on a similar basis.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones says Roy Keane will be a success at Town but that patience is required when a side is being rebuilt: "Roy has gone in and done a good job. Sometimes when results don't go the right way there is speculation.

"Ipswich have good players, they've brought good players in, and Roy is trying to mould them into the team he wants. That doesn't happen straight away.

"They've picked up some good results and had near misses trying to turn draws into wins. The culture now seems to be that if somebody loses some games, they've got to go.

"We're all under pressure from day one, win lose or draw because the expectation levels at every football club are really high.

"Some clubs show patience with managers, some don't. I don't see clubs that change their managers a lot at the top of the league. Patience and time in football are commodities that don't go together too well.

"We all know the situation and Roy knows it better than anybody. He's come out and said he's building for the future."

Town keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was with Cardiff between 2003 and 2005 after leaving Norwich’s youth set-up but made only one substitute appearance for the Bluebirds. No Cardiff player has previously represented the Blues.

Town have the upper hand historically, winning 15 (13 in the league), drawing 10 (10) and losing 10 (nine).

Last season, the Bluebirds won 2-1 at Portman Road in December, Jay Bothroyd and Gabor Gyepes netting for the Welshmen and Jon Stead scoring for Town, who had Ben Thatcher sent off for two bookable offences.

The Blues won the return fixture, the penultimate of the season, the last at Ninian Park and Roy Keane’s first in charge of Town, 3-0 with Pablo Couñago, David Norris and Jon Stead on the scoresheet. Richard Wright saved a Ross McCormack penalty.

Sunday’s referee is Jarnail Singh from Hounslow, who has shown 41 yellow and no red cards in 11 games so far this season. Singh’s last Town game was the 3-2 home victory over Scunthorpe in December 2007 in which he booked only the Iron’s Jim Goodwin.

Squad from: R Wright, Lee-Barrett, Rosenior, D Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Smith, Brown, Leadbitter, Garvan, Quinn, Healy, Trotter, Colback, Walters, Edwards, Peters, Martin, John, Priskin, Stead, Couñago, Wickham.

Photo: Action Images

brogansnose added 16:21 - Nov 27 Super and Surco re; not wanting to go up with 'Jims' team , some of it might be down to this headlong rush to get in the Premier League in a two year period and the apparent need seen by Keane to rip the squad to bits. Totally agree that we do not perform as a team.I truly believe that if they all played to the best of their ability , or something approaching that , we wouldnt be in this situation now . Whose fault? Keanes or the players ?

0

superblueflude added 16:21 - Nov 27 thats why for me 6 weeks is a good time scale - the evening star says 2 games - sorry but for me cardiff away and bristol away certainly arent two games to go on. we'll be lucky for 2 points - so will many teams away to these two. Do we want someone in before the jan window? waste another few million again, what happens if - IF that also goes pair shaped? i just dont know

0

brockleyblueboy added 16:21 - Nov 27 This is like a cross between the jerry springer show and eastenders. Good and enjoyable posts today :-) Oh yeah, come on you blues
0

brockleyblueboy added 16:22 - Nov 27 Oh and did anyone want a quid on the score?
0

superblueflude added 16:38 - Nov 27 im gonna go 1-1 - dont know why but im going for a delaney header
0

byebyesheepshanks added 16:44 - Nov 27 Could Brokleblueboy please come to the diary room
0

keanotheenforcer added 16:49 - Nov 27 I am going to comment on the actual article regarding tomorrow's game rather then all the needless Keane in/out banter as its getting tiresome reading the same old stuff on here day after day! I for one, when I heard yesterday that we were signing Stern John was rather dissapointed but after sleeping on it for a night I am a little bit more optimistic going in to tomorrows game. How often does a striker sign for a club and go & get himself a debut goal-I have this gut feeling that he might be like how Ricardo Fuller was here a few seasons ago, good at holding players off and bringing others in which we havent had since him and before that to a lesser extent Jamie Scowcroft. You dont need pace to be able to hold the ball up, create space and play others in so I think this could be an inspired signing from Keane as we have been yurning for a big, strong striker all season. Ideally I would have liked someone maybe a little younger, but with age comes experience and hopefully that will help the younger lads like Priskin, Wickham etc. and we may well indeed see an unexpected result come this weekend. My team for the weekend: R.Wright Rosenior/McCauley/Delaney/Wright Edwards/Leadbitter/Garvan/Walters John/Priskin I think Cardiff are there for the taking this weekend, lost the last two to Barnsley & Swansea. The same Swansea we played off the park down here so im going to stick my neck out & go for a 2-1 win to the town. COYB

0

superblueflude added 16:52 - Nov 27 keano forcer etc etc - if you dont like reading dont visit the website "simples"
0

byebyesheepshanks added 16:52 - Nov 27 Can you be booked for after dinner speaking Keanotheenforcer?
0

keanotheenforcer added 16:53 - Nov 27 Superblue-WUM! Enough said
0

superblueflude added 16:54 - Nov 27 Wum! - wow what a word - my 2 year old son can say more lol but seriously what is it with people moaning about the comments people leave"i dont want to read it" - dont! simple as lol, go to east anglian daily times if you just want to read the story.
0

keanotheenforcer added 17:01 - Nov 27 Yawn! Anyone going tomorrow? Any other score predictions/teams?
0

superblueflude added 17:03 - Nov 27 the team i think keane will pick is R.Wright Rosenoir Delaney Mcauley D.wright Edwards Leadbitter Garvan Walters John Priskin
0

brockleyblueboy added 17:16 - Nov 27 Did anyone think Spurs would beat Wigan 9-1? No, neither did I so for that reason I am going for a 5-2 Ipswich victory! Any takers?
0

kirbs added 18:07 - Nov 27 I'd play stead and stern john upfront, wickham will probably be a class player when he is older and it wouldnt hurt to start him but when he has appeared this season he has done nuthing, edwards gives the ball away too much, all delaney does is hoof it instead of picking a pass out but the defence has been good in recent games. Make sure you pick the right team keane, your job depends on it!

0

tractorboybig added 18:31 - Nov 27 pablo with pablo,pablo in mid field pablo in defence and pablo in goal, the only class player we have, and our monkey of a manger dont even put him on the bench.
0

pickles110564 added 19:01 - Nov 27 I can not see Keano picking Wrighty.
0

Mark added 19:27 - Nov 27 Regarding goalkeepers, Keane said "“I've not decided which one I'll go with". I find that rather an insult to Richard Wright and it must further erode the goalkeeper's morale and confidence. Wright has made nearly 300 appearances for Ipswich, over 70 in the Premier League for Arsenal and Everton, and 2 for England. Lee-Barratt's appearances have come at Hartlepool and Weymouth. To compare the two is a joke and I can't believe Keane said it!!

0

firmfoundations added 19:56 - Nov 27 Why sign a player who you are unsure as to his fitness? Barmy.
0

Blueknight85 added 20:30 - Nov 27 pablo is kak he just looks exciting
0

corshamblue added 20:31 - Nov 27 Keano your a fruit loop! Not sure who to play Wright or Lee-Barratt? You've signed a player on a 4 week loan and don't know how fit he is? I'm sure it's all 'Keano Mindgames and Ego Bubbles blowing up your own arm pit' but for the love of it all - pick a winning team! Rant over. You could send out 'Jedwood' up front and I'll still support them [maybe] - but if they fail it's you and not them at fault!

0

corshamblue added 20:36 - Nov 27 Ipswich Win 2-0 - 3 points and a Clean Sheet. Wickham to score!
0

UEFA81 added 21:12 - Nov 27 firmfoundations - exactly! Keane will probably keep him on the bench for the entire 6 match period so it will all have been a waste of time. It's like having a car with no hope in hell of it getting through the MOT. I think John should be declared SORN. LOL
0

hype313 added 09:24 - Nov 28 3-0 town, put £20 on it, Stern to score a hat trick...someone's lost a xmas present but they could gain a whole lot more!!!
0

BlueArmy01 added 13:16 - Nov 28 I have to admit for myself the jury has been out with regard to Keane being announced as manager from day 1. I do not subscribe to the he was great at Man u so will be great manager etc etc......... but his team selections and failure to bring the right players in has finally got the better of me. Where was Pablo last weekend two of Sheff wed defenders booked after 20 mins no one capable of twisting turning and getting one sent off. Le Martin is dog dirt, i admire Walters work ethic and qualities but striker he isn't. Word is Pablo and Keane had bust up on training ground before Sheff Wed game so when will he surface again if ever....... David Wright been one of our best players since return so Keane tries his hardest to get someone in to replace him the list of man management failures goes on and on, Sorry it's time for Keane to go before Wickham Pablo etc either disappear in January or soon after.

0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls