Keeper Márton Fülöp looks likely to miss Saturday’s game at Preston due to the ankle injury which forced him out of last week’s 3-1 defeat to Swansea. Better news for boss Roy Keane is that David Norris is over his sickness bug and Darren O’Dea and Mark Kennedy could both be involved at Deepdale after hamstring problems.

Keane says Fülöp remains a doubt with the problem he picked up in the derby defeat at Norwich: “Márton might go out and do something today, but not too much. Márton is still doubtful for Saturday.”

The Blues boss says both Brian Murphy and Arran Lee-Barrett are in contention for Saturday: “We’ve got a session this morning and we’ve got Murph and Arran. I’d never guarantee any player a place on the Thursday beforehand. They’ve got to fight on the Thursday and Friday to get in the team.

“Murph will be disappointed with the mistake he made on the first goal last week and, particularly with goalkeepers, you’ve got to have a good side to you because if you make a mistake it generally leads to a goal.

“The Van De Sars and the Schmeichels all make mistakes, but the top goalkeepers take it on the chin and get back on with it. If Murph was to play on Saturday, I know he’ll be ready.”

The Blues boss says his skipper will come back into the side, despite his praise for Grant Leadbitter and Jack Colback’s performances in central midfield against Swansea: “David Norris is fine and has trained. It was a 24-hour thing which we think he might have got from Gareth McAuley as he was carrying something. I think we might have a place for him.”

Darren O’Dea’s girlfriend has finally had their baby and the on-loan Celtic man is set to train today with Keane hopeful that the 23-year-old will be fine to keep his place in the side.

The likes of Luke Hyam (hamstring) and Connor Wickham (thigh) are still a week or two away from a return, while McAuley (achilles) is out until January, but left-back Mark Kennedy is on the mend, although Keane appears unlikely to risk the veteran Irishman at the weekend: “The lads who have been injured for the last few weeks are still injured and won’t be available.

“Mark Kennedy might have an outside chance if he trains well today and tomorrow having trained with us for the first time on Tuesday.

“But we’ve got to be careful because Mark’s struggled with hamstrings since he’s come to the club and the last thing we want to do is rush him back and for him to pick up another injury. We have to be careful with that one, but we do miss his experience.

“Hopefully we’ve got to the bottom of it now in terms of getting his back sorted because that was one of the issues. If we play him on Saturday we might have to give him an hour at most, but we’ll see how things go in the next day or two in training.”

Photo: Action Images

BseaBlue added 11:37 - Dec 9 Team for Preston Murphy Zuiverloon Delaney Smith Kennedy Healy Norris Leadbitter Edwards Townsend Priskin
0

MaySixth added 11:57 - Dec 9 Congratulations to Darren O'Dea and his missus
0

bizman added 12:03 - Dec 9 Murphy (if fulop is injured) zuiverloon delaney smith kennedy edwards norris leadbitter townsend priskin scotland
0

bobble added 12:24 - Dec 9 flop was never worth the cash
0

Solly added 12:30 - Dec 9 I actually don't mid the 4-5-1, at least we keep the ball, and you think it's a coincidence that Norris has stopped scoring now we're back to 4-4-2? I don't. Also, I'd love to see Lee-Barrett back, always looked like it meant the world to him. So; Lee Barrett Zuivy Delaney Smith O'Dea Edwards Norris Leadbitter Colback Townsend Priskin
0

GlenPennyfather added 12:30 - Dec 9 I'm sure our good start to the season, and subsequent current terrible run of form, has a correlation with our use of the loan system. If you look at the team early on with no loan signings... Fulop, Peters, McAuley, Smith, Kennedy, Hyam, Leadbitter, Norris, Edwards, Wickham, Priskin It has now been infiltrated with six loanees... Zuiverloon, O'Dea, Colback, Livermore, Townsend, Fallon I know a lot of the original 11 have been hit by injuries, but I am sure the number of loanees must have impacted morale!?

0

itfc1981 added 12:32 - Dec 9 Connor Wickham (thigh) are still a week or two away !
0

Footballpete added 12:35 - Dec 9 Not so much with Townsend and O'Dea as they are here for the season, I really don't see the point of the others? Livermore doesn't play, Zuiverloon is not match fit and won't be until his time is up so therefore pointless, Colback is too similar to Norris and Leadbitter who will never be dropped so has to play out of position, and Fallon is just the stupidest signing I could have possibly imagined.

0

itfc1981 added 12:35 - Dec 9 Me again. “we've got to be careful because Mark's struggled with hamstrings since he's come to the club" he has always struggled with his hamstrings, why did you think that would be any different with us, a good player but a pointless signing.
0

Suffolk_n_Good added 12:35 - Dec 9 I'm with solly, give Lee-Barrett a go.
0

Mark added 12:45 - Dec 9 If we field a different goalkeeper every week, League One here we come! There is no point rushing Kennedy back, as he has looked poor every time I have seen him. O'Connor has looked far better, but of course O'Dea will get preference over him.
0

BwoodBlue added 13:02 - Dec 9 Murphy Zuiverloon Smith Delaney O'Dea Norris Leadbitter Colback Edwards Townsend Priskin
0

legoman added 13:10 - Dec 9 Brown is our best defender by far at the Mo. Why isn't anyone suggesting him in your lineups?
0

Martus added 13:16 - Dec 9 We need to be attacking and go for the win as Preston must be under more pressure than we are, so Murphy Peters, Delaney, Smith, O'Connor Edwards, Colback, Norris (But would prefer Leadbitter) Townsend Prisking, Scotland
0

Back_The_Boss added 13:43 - Dec 9 Murphy should start regardless.
0

Blue_Square added 14:00 - Dec 9 Why this scum bag Zuiverloon....? Hasn't he said he's got no interest in playing for us past Jan - and we're just a method to condition him for another club..? Well PI$$ off then - why would we want this rubbish in the team..? He's been at fault for 3 goals in the 2 games he's played... Peters Back - send this waster back to West Brom ressies..
0

Mungo added 14:08 - Dec 9 I agree with Solly and Suffolk_n_good. Neither Fulop nor Murphy have been in great form recently. Give Lee-Barrett a go. He didn't let anyone down before!
0

itfc4eva added 15:04 - Dec 9 never mind. murphy needs a chance in first and impressed for the best part against swansea. i do feel that lee barrett needs to have a chance or else it will seem pointless us paying his wages when he could be at a club where he will have first team experience
0

brian_a_mul added 15:39 - Dec 9 Murphy Peters Smith Delaney O Connor Leadbitter Edwards Norris Colback Townsend Priskin
0

fluffy_wool added 15:41 - Dec 9 Team for saturday then: Murphy Peters Brown Smith O'Dea Townsend Leadbitter Norris Edwards Priskin Scotland Subs : Lee-Barrett Fallon Murray O'Connor Delaney Lambe Colback
0

Ipswich24 added 16:05 - Dec 9 Wickham being wrapped in cotton wool for january obvious
0

Bluestu added 16:26 - Dec 9 I would go for Brown and Delaney at the back, smith and delaney both want to play on the left, and at least the above is balanced and in the right position, it has also been said that Smith needs a rest after world cup etc. I would stick with murphy, yes he was at fault for first goal, but hopefully he will have learnt from it. O conner at left back for me, i would either go 442 with priskin scotland or 451 with colback instead of scotland Murphy Zoov/peters Brown Delaney O Conner Edwards Norris Leadbitter Townsend Scotland/colback Priskin

0

fourth added 17:56 - Dec 9 Kennedy and Co are just old pals acts Doesn't Keane have the guts to tell them it's over? Rather than bringing them on with 2 minutes to go. Isn't this cynical and an indicator of the real destitution of the man's thinking?
0

slowerball added 19:01 - Dec 9 Good shout BeasBlue - Healy deserves a go - he looks lean, has been doing well in the ressies and has looked decent when he's come on from the bench. Strogly think that we need to batter PNE - (£5 for my lad - marvellous) - and to do so would think we need to play 4-4-2. Fingers crossed Kennedy gets back and stays fit - he's an experienced player and is a proper defender - much needed as we have seen. My prediction - 5-2 to us. FYI: PNE have undersoil heating and there is currently no snow or ice on the ground.

0

bluelady added 19:33 - Dec 9 why are peoeple putting Smith and Delaney in at the back, thats what doesnt work they are both left foot players. Should be Brown without a doubt on right of centre.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls