Luciano Civelli and Damien Delaney are expected to be in the reserves side which takes on Oxford United at Portman Road this afternoon (KO 2pm). The duo are returning from knee and thigh injuries respectively.

Civelli’s comeback from his long-term knee problem stalled when he was injured in the pre-season friendly at Leiston, having played in the matches at Newmarket and Histon.

Recently manager Roy Keane said the Argentinian’s problem is now more to do with the mental effects of the injury rather than the physical side of his recovery.

Left-sided defender Delaney has been making good progress after suffering compartment syndrome in his thigh during a training ground collision, an injury which could have proved very serious had the Irishman not been rushed to hospital.

Town could potentially need Delaney at Portsmouth on Saturday with Darren O’Dea (knee) and Shane O’Connor (hamstring) coming back early from international duty with injuries. However, Mark Kennedy is understood to be closing in on a return after his hamstring problem.

The Blues' reserves won their only other Totesport.com Football Combination East Division game 3-1 at home to Stevenage and currently head the table. Last week a young side lost 2-0 to a more senior QPR team in an away friendly,

Meanwhile, Jaime Peters was an unused sub as Canada beat Honduras 2-1 in Montreal last night.

Photo: Action Images

pottyblue added 10:11 - Sep 8 good to see them both getting back ,i hope luca can get over the psychological effects off the injury and doesnt loose his bottle,i thought he looked quite good in his 9 or so games he played in. ps i hope roy hasnt lost patience in him
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bluelady added 10:12 - Sep 8 oh no dont say they are going to being Delany back at left back!!!! Seriously though really good news - but no Wickham yet? Pleased about Civelli lets hope that he makes a full recovery this time he really can offer us depth in midfield.....
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ITFCAlex added 10:12 - Sep 8 Wow! Some good news on the injury front? Feels strange.
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Tractorog added 10:13 - Sep 8 Fingers crossed. Let's hope it is Lucky Luciano from here on in.
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Smithy added 10:21 - Sep 8 Come on Luca, get stuck in son!
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Smithy added 10:22 - Sep 8 Brilliant, Peters goes half the way around the world to sit on the bench, and if Kennedy is closing in on a return why is he nopt featuring this afternoon?
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brittaniaman added 10:24 - Sep 8 Very pleased to hear that they are making progress, I shall be there this afternoon to support them, and see for myself how they are getting on !!!!!
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NorthstaNder added 10:28 - Sep 8 Good news at last! The more bodies back in that squad the better, even if they're not considered regular first teamers at the moment (Civelli?)
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Parisblue72 added 10:28 - Sep 8 Good news. I hope Tommy Smith keeps his place for the moment though.
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joshuanelli added 10:30 - Sep 8 This is a nice surprise this morning bearing in mind they were two players who i still thought were quite a way off featuring in any kind of match situations. Looks like Keano is trying to rush them both back bearing in mind they could both do a job at left back!?
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StowTractorBoy added 11:12 - Sep 8 I am rather hoping that O'Dea will be fit for Saturday as I do not fancy Delaney at left back especially if he is facing Lawrence. Have been impressed with O'Dea but if not fit then Keano has a dilemma.
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bluelady added 11:30 - Sep 8 StowTractorBoy - i would rather Delany fitted in at left centre and Smith went to Left back as that is where he plays for New Zealand? that said O'Dea would be my preferred option. Personally think its the media blowing it out of proportion - he had a niggle and was sent home to get it seen to, the scan said it was a minor strain so pretty convinced we will see him!
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muhrensleftfoot added 11:53 - Sep 8 Let's hope Luca does well. He needs a bit of luck. Hope RK helps him rather than just criticise his mental wellbeing. If Luca does well, comes to training on time, and works hard, then RK will give him every chance. If he has an attitude like his Spanish mate, then he'll be out the door in no time at all.
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kerryblue added 11:59 - Sep 8 Great news ,so good to see Delaney back in contention and hopefully Civelli will stay clear of injury and get some confidence built up and show us some of the class he has.I expect to see O'Dea play on Saturday as it was more of a precaution to return him to Town.After watching both Ireland games over the past few days I would expect Norris to be named in the next squad as in both games Whelan,Lawrence,Green and McGeady gave poor midfield displays and things need tuning up.

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Blueknight85 added 12:06 - Sep 8 I imagine Peters will play left back and aiden collins or troy brown will play right back with delaney or one of the other crooked ones being on the bench unless O'dea is ok in which case collins will be on the bench
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Blueknight85 added 12:09 - Sep 8 also when i say aiden collins i mean jack ainsley lol
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MyBlueHeaven added 13:34 - Sep 8 @smithy - has roy got your number? clearly you seem to know more about players returning from injury than he does.
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Frase1987 added 13:51 - Sep 8 "the Argentinian's problem is now more to do with the mental effects of the injury rather than the physical side of his recovery" Complete bull****, the tissue is damaged or it isn't
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adamisablue added 15:15 - Sep 8 @farse no it isnt. at 12 i was set to become suffoks answer to peter schmicheal until i broke my thema bone in my right leg. was never the same aftre that, bottled challenges, couldnt kick, put on loads of weight.serious injurys CAN have a real mental effect but hopefully lucho is strong anough and roy keeps patiernce with him.
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CroydonBlue added 15:24 - Sep 8 I agree adamisablue. I've suffered the same injury as Civelli, fully tearing my ACL and having it replaced with hamstring fibres. Although the ligament is as strong as it ever was or has been, the mental side of things really affects you. You always wonder if the same thing is going to happen again when making challenges, or even stopping and turning. Getting your head round that original pain is the biggest issue to deal with when an ACL injury is concerned.

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Frase1987 added 16:24 - Sep 8 this has nothing to do with that though, he's not playing worse, he's not playing at all. If he's UNABLE to play it's due to a chronic condition, which is physical.
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Back_The_Boss added 17:22 - Sep 8 Good news. Does Delaney come straight back in the team though? Smith has done well.
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