Town manager Roy Keane will wait until tomorrow morning before picking his team for the home game against Derby with David Norris, Tom Eastman and Grant Leadbitter all doubts. The Blues boss is able to call on defenders Mark Kennedy and Darren O’Dea after injury.

Keane says he has players pushing for involvement if the doubtful trio miss out: “Tom Eastman, who has been doing very well for us, had to come off with a knock to his hip on Saturday. Grant Leadbitter’s got a problem with his hamstring and another couple of lads are carrying knocks.

“David Norris is a doubt for tomorrow night with his ankle injury. But we’ve other lads ready to come in, people like Andros Townsend, who has been training really well. Darren O’Dea’s had a few days training with us and then there’s Mark Kennedy, so we’ll be OK in terms of cover.”

Skipper Norris and defender Eastman, who has been playing at right-back in recent weeks, are rated at 50/50 and appear more significant concerns than Leadbitter.

Mark Kennedy is over his hamstring problem, while Darren O’Dea has made swift progress after his recent knee operation but Keane feels they may need a bit longer before making their first team returns: “I think if they were sitting here they’d say they were available for tomorrow night, but we’re training in the morning and I’ll make a late decision on that.

“My gut feeling is that I’d rather them have another few days’ training and get ready for Saturday, but it will be dictated by how lads like David Norris and Tom Eastman come through training in the morning and whether we have to mix the back four up a little bit.

“The players are off today, we did a recovery session yesterday and we’ll have a very light one tomorrow. We’ve no need to be rushed into a decision today, we’ll look at it tomorrow morning.”

Keane says no decision has yet been made on whether O'Dea will be fit enough to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly with Norway next week.

Alan Quinn has been joining in light training sessions as he recovers from the groin injury which has kept him out of action since pre-season, but the former Ireland international is still another couple of weeks away from contention.

Colin Healy has developed a groin problem on his way back from a hamstring injury but like Quinn - and probably O'Dea and Kennedy - could be involved in a behind closed doors reserves friendly with Norwich which has been arranged for next week.

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 17:38 - Nov 8 why play townsend on the right when he is left footed Foster? prefer to see colback in the centre and not on the left wing as he drifts in anyways, these leaves a space for Townsend on the left. Edwards has been very consistant this year and i would not drop him.
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bluelady added 17:39 - Nov 8 ipswich 24 like your team, Colback in if either Norris or Ledbitter injured?
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Ipswich24 added 18:08 - Nov 8 Yeah Colback in if eithercant make it blue lady
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foster added 18:41 - Nov 8 blue lady i reacon keane will play colback there i like colback and i would find it hard to put him on the bench if i was keano and good point about townsend cant play left footed player on right so probaly edwards in for him
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bluelady added 19:09 - Nov 8 Foster agree Colback is a good player, think we have too many midfielders really and he isnt good at left mid, drifts in too much. Mind you not a bad position to be in is it, having such a wide choice, keeps the opposition on their toes! Having said all that think we need Norris and his work ethics against someone like that Savage chappie!! If i remember rightly he threw his teddy well out of his pram last year,made a right plonker of himself!!! Love him on radio, great character but does get in such a sulk when things go against him on the pitch!

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vulcher added 20:33 - Nov 8 whoopit do not buckle under the pressure........ blue lady stop forcing him haha. 3 wins on the bounce, maybe things aint as bad as i thought. another 3 points tomoz nite will do nicely COYB
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foster added 20:35 - Nov 8 leadbitter can deal with savage he will get in his face like usal leadbitter
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adamisablue added 03:41 - Nov 9 savage is a player who takes the heat so the rest of the team can play. shut him downand derby will crumble. and i agree about a revious comment, im not likeing this flat back four, trikey wingers will catch them out, also elimainates the attacking overlap, chapter 1 of the football tactics book. we need to sort this out in jan. we are gonna need the width against derby who (from what ive seen) play direct football, so to beat them play a counter style down the flank. id also play a dimond midield (that way you have a 3 way formation of 4-4-2, 5-3-2, 4-3-3) and have full backs making overlapping runs. pairing wickham with scotland is a bad idea as both simalr sort of player (muscle, poacher, power striker) so paring either one with prisken would be like salt and pepper. (or kugi and bent) if keane doest get his extension,S.C and M.E, i am avaialbe for the ITFC mabagers job, championship manager 2001/2002 C.V available on request...

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legoman added 08:37 - Nov 9 Adam the mabager!
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bluelady added 08:59 - Nov 9 Vulcher are you coming over from the darkside too??!!! :-)
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Calmingwind added 09:13 - Nov 9 really hoping for a good performance tonight, win hopefully will come with it. Donnt want that small gap between the top 3 and us getting that little bit bigger! keep that pressure on boys COYB
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vulcher added 11:12 - Nov 9 I'm thinking about it :-), I'm willing to meet halfway. our position in league is closer to where I wants us to be. Looking forward to tonight, reckon it will be a decent game!
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brian_a_mul added 11:32 - Nov 9 Adamisablue: You can download free demo of Football Manager 2010 from the official Football Manager website! Derby have injury issues and will be a little tired. A good home crowd (hopefully), bad weather conditions, tough midweek away game and tired bodies will hopefully get to the Derby players. Regardless of what ever team we start with we need to play at a high tempo and use the bench to keep things fresh and quick. Norris should be full of beans and by all accounts Kennedy and O'Dea are fresh and chomping at the bit. Maybe time to rest Delaney and Smith. Peters should also start at RB to give freshness and mobility against Derbys wide players (Cwyka or Commons). 4-4-2: Fulop Peters McAuley Delaney Kennedy Edwards Norris LeadbitterorHyam Townsend Priskin Scotland

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bluelady added 13:29 - Nov 9 Vulcher long may it last!!!! Seems like Chambers may be on his own from now on!!!!!
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vulcher added 13:36 - Nov 9 Lol I enjoy reading chambers posts tho. I have to slightly like keane as I only sit 5 rows behind him, and what with him being a nutter I don't want him hunting me down!
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