Boss Roy Keane says striker Connor Wickham is close to returning to his starting line-up after appearing from the bench in Town’s last two games. The England U17 international missed the start of the season with an ankle injury but came on for 20 minutes at Portsmouth and played the second half in Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to QPR.

Keane was impressed with the young striker’s performance against the league leaders: “I was very pleased with him. Connor’s pushing for a place on Saturday.

“We’re reluctant to start him, but what he does do, and what good players do, is have an impact on the game. They influence the game and Connor did that.

“I don’t think he got great support or great service, but he made the most of it and set up a great chance for Carlos with his tenacity when he chased a lost cause.”

Overall, the Blues boss felt his team were forced to go too long by Neil Warnock’s side: “Our players weren’t at their sharpest and when you’re not at your sharpest sometimes you look for that get-out ball.

“Credit to QPR, they made us play long and their centre-halves won a lot balls, particularly in the first half with Jason because that’s not his strength. We didn’t get enough balls in at his feet.

“But that was because we weren’t at our best and we had to change it at half-time. That’s football and we know we can do better.”

After Tuesday’s game Keane said there might be news on his targeted Premier League loan signing on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Cardiff boss Dave Jones says he hopes to have Craig Bellamy back in his side when the Bluebirds travel to Suffolk on Saturday: “I’m hopeful Craig will be back — along with a couple of others.”

Bellamy has missed Cardiff’s last two games with a knee problem but was close to being involved in the Welsh side’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday.

Photo: Action Images

GiveusaWave added 09:23 - Sep 16 Would be good to have Connor starting....it would be even more significant though if Bellamy can't play. Really feel that this game is crucial....we need to win it.....
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Billy_Whizz added 09:23 - Sep 16 Sounding like 4-4-2 with Connor and Scotland up front for Saturday then?
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GiveusaWave added 09:25 - Sep 16 Wonder if Priskin will end up playing on the left wing again....
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IscaBlue added 09:25 - Sep 16 Well at least he identifies the problems, I've got confidence in him to do that at least. Lets hope he can get the players to change things and have fewer games where they're "not at their best". That'll be the true sign of a good manager, but he does have the potential to get there.
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GiveusaWave added 09:27 - Sep 16 Does sound like Scotland and Wickham up front- with regular support on the left wing from Priskin.... If Colback is back- will be interesting to see where he might fit in...
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bleedblue added 09:28 - Sep 16 Bellamy will thrive on coming back to PR and doing us over - i am never ngative - but Bellamy could do us on Saturday!
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GiveusaWave added 09:32 - Sep 16 Potential side: Fülöp, Peters, Kennedy, McAuley, Smith, Hyam, Leadbitter, Norris, Priskin, Wickham, Scotland. Agree Bleedblue- Bellamy playing is crucial. Lets hope he takes a little longer to return to action! He is one player who can turn a match on its head on his own...
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GiveusaWave added 09:40 - Sep 16 Marshall, McNaughton, Naylor, Hudson, Gyepes, Rae,Whittingham, Koumas ,Burke, Bellamy,Keogh (with Mcphail from bench..) Could be a good match....
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Back_The_Boss added 09:44 - Sep 16 4-4-2, Scotland and Wickham. Big game on saturday, COYB!
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Solly added 09:56 - Sep 16 There is no chance Priskin will play left wing, not in a 4-4-2. He's played on the left of a 3 so far, but never in a flat midfield. Townsend left, Edwards right, Wickham and Scotland up top; lets have some.
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Karlosfandangal added 10:06 - Sep 16 If it is Colbeck I think he will take on the Hyam role as he looked a little out of his deapth agaianst QPR and Colbeck will also cover Norris and Leadbitter when they gets suspended for all the booking they pick up
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BlooooCD added 10:13 - Sep 16 If he's fit - you have to play this lad... He's the one player that turns a game in our favour! I know its a team effort but he is perfect for our game play and coudl be the differenc ebetween 3 and 0 points on Saturday! City can be undone as they have been, but we have to get into them from the start!
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joshuanelli added 10:22 - Sep 16 Guentchev - thats a good attempt at predicting the town side, but id be surprised if anyone successfully gets it right as Keano's always gotta surprise or two up his sleeve!
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devontractorboy added 10:48 - Sep 16 Think this will be a real tough game for us, not a must win this early in the season as some have suggested, if Keane is building a new side he still has a fair way to go though IMO. It's a pity that his ambition has not been matched by Messrs Clegg & Evans. We may just as well play Wickham as often as we can as I can't see him being here next season! Lets just hope the loan window brings in another player or two, I think we need some quality in particular up front.

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Blueknight85 added 11:07 - Sep 16 i hate to be negative its not normally my thing but bellamy will walk all over peters if he plays peters cant defend against a tricky player we would be better off putting mcaully at right back for this game and giving troy brown or tom eastman a crack in the middle
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blue_em_away added 11:42 - Sep 16 Blueknight85 your kidding right?? Big mac at right back on bellamy?? Wow, that's one for the archives lol.
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corshamblue added 12:02 - Sep 16 Start with Tom Eastman as a CB and get him to put in one of the 'Mega Crunching' tackles on Bellamy's knee - pick up a Yellow card and sub him for Tommy . . Game on! Only kidding. If we can close down the Cardiff midfield and somehow keep the supply to Bellamy limited we'll do OK. Don't Panic. 2-1 Town for sure. Wickham Wonder Land . . . COYB
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zippyrainbow added 12:13 - Sep 16 Not even the "boy wonder" himself can help us against Cardiff. I am not usually negative but I think we are in for a shafting against those sheep shaggers !!!
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AJblue added 12:43 - Sep 16 zippyrainbow " I am not usually negative but...." funniest post i have read on here for months!
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joe9087 added 12:50 - Sep 16 Not sure if we have anyone who could step in in his position, but Edwards hasn't been playing that great whenever I've seen him this season, he seems to be the one player to me that is still playing like last year. And don't get me started on his fluff on tuesday night!
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brian_a_mul added 13:23 - Sep 16 The comment about Bellamy v Peters is a good one. However I think any of our defenders (in fact any defender in Champ) would get slaughtered by Bellamy out wide. Of all our defenders Peters has the pace to track him around the pitch, this is the only thing Peters has going for him in saturdays game. Bellamy is definately a class above this league and by far the best player in this division. I would be inclined to keep it tight at the back, flat back 4 (Kennedy, Smith McAuley & O'Dea if fit) and not let any defender get caught isolated in the wider areas. If one of full backs gets caught out wide against Bellamy we run the risk of cards and giving away dangerous frees and maybe peno if he gets inside his man. The defensive Mid will be a vital position covering the area in front of the central def. Hopefully Hyam still has the legs on him to give a full 90 min. Keep it tight, dont let them near/run into the box and cover central space. Arialy we are solid and should be able to clear mose balls in to the box. We will need to move the ball quicker.

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muhrensleftfoot added 13:45 - Sep 16 MacAuley will need to be back to his best against Bellamy. Tuesday was his worst game for some time. Of course Wickham should start. You should always start with your best 11 if they are fit. I'm still not covinced about Edwards. I'd like to see Peters on the right midlfield or wing. Maybe bring in Brown at right back. Edwards seems to bring little more than a long throw, & even that gets tedious after a time

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zippyrainbow added 13:46 - Sep 16 brian_a_mul - thanks for that analysis but not many fans on here would grasp that with the exception of myself and ChambersM. For their benefit you should have kept it simple. How about, score more goals than them, foul them, play the long ball and try not to let any goals in. These Keano fans will undertand that better.
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Ipswich24 added 15:41 - Sep 16 It dont matter who we play what formation who bellamys against why cant any of you on here see if we play that long ball crap then we will get hammered again we need a plan b and c not just long throws and long balls what have we become the old wimbledon its rubbish we need a creative midfielder like gio or tarabatt two out and out wingers to get decent supply to our front men that is what we flippin need

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brian_a_mul added 15:59 - Sep 16 Thanks, I just hope Bellamy isnt fully fit. A draw would be a good result. Its important not to let the top teams get too far ahead too early if we have designs on challanging for top two spots. Cardiff have an unpredictability about them. They can beat the top teams but can also play poor and loose against weaker teams. After their loss on Tuesday to Leicester thay will also be looking for a performance. Should be a thunderous game! I cant wait.

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