Town manager Roy Keane says a number of his players are carrying knocks ahead of Boxing Day’s home game against Watford, but the Blues boss refused to divulge which members of his squad might not be fit enough to face the Hornets.

Keane said: “There are one or two players carrying knocks but I’m certainly not going to reveal who they are. We’ve had them wrapped in cotton wool over the last few days and we’ll do the same today.

“One or two lads have got injuries which they’ve been carrying for a month or two and we’ll have to look after them over the next week.”

The Town boss says that with fixtures coming thick and fast over Christmas some of his fringe players are likely to get an opportunity: “I’m not looking too far ahead after the game against Watford, but the squad will certainly come into it, more so after the Watford game.

“Some of our players physically aren’t able to play two games in three days, it’s literally impossible. There will probably be more changes after the Watford game.

“Watford is our priority, I’m not kidding myself and looking too far ahead, but after that there will have to be changes.”

Midfielder Luke Hyam is on the way back after his hamstring problem and could be involved over the Christmas period despite a planned reserve appearance being scuppered earlier this week when the weather put paid to a reserves friendly against Crystal Palace.

Gareth McAuley is making progress after his achilles surgery and will be back in January but probably not in time for the Chelsea and Arsenal cup-ties early in the month.

Keane doesn’t expect Sunday’s match to be under any threat of postponement with the pitch currently under cover: “I spoke to the groundsman this morning and he’s fairly confident that the game will go ahead. Let’s put it this way, if we got through last week, this one should be a doddle!”

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 11:24 - Dec 23 Please be more careful with ME money in the transfer market Mr Keane.
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itfc1981 added 11:27 - Dec 23 Watford is our priority, I'm not kidding myself and looking too far ahead, but after that there will have to be changes.” Finally he learns that your next game is your most important one. no more resting players!
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Blue92 added 11:38 - Dec 23 “Some of our players physically aren't able to play two games in three days, Wow.... is £10k a week not enough for their poor little leggies to run?
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legoman added 11:39 - Dec 23 81. What are you on about? We are resting some after the Watford game.
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dan_itfc added 11:41 - Dec 23 A win against watford and were not looking so bad again, look at the post christmas form last year! If we can end like we did last year with Mcauley coming back were right in contention. Just trying to stay positive by the way, unlike the majority of the commenters on here!
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bobble added 11:41 - Dec 23 hopefully the changes after watford will be you mr keane and i am not kidding either
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BYRNE_16 added 11:48 - Dec 23 oh Gareth McAuley we sure do miss you!
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Garv added 12:00 - Dec 23 No doubt Kennedy is one of them, why the f*ck did we buy him?! No good having a bit of experience if he's never on the bloody field! Why are players' injuries so top secret anyway? Wouldn't surprise me if we heard priskin has a 'virus' of some sort tomorrow. Keane out.
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clive_baker added 12:29 - Dec 23 Fair enough not saying, no point giving Watford the edge until after they have handed in their team sheet. I would love to see Priskin start on boxing day. Point to prove to Keane and against his former club.
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osborne1nil added 12:49 - Dec 23 Perhaps if there are a few injuries then 1 or 2 of the players that have turned up 2 minutes late for training or have played well in games will be given another chance to play ie Peters, Priskin, Hyam (if fit). Maybe it is some of the players we have on loan so we get a chance to play OUR players who will still be here after January loans expire? Still hoping that Santa is stopping off at PR with a new manager but looks increasingly unlikely. I wouldn't want Keane spending anymore of my money if I was M.E. in January, we shall see.

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Mark added 13:03 - Dec 23 I just hope that changes are a result of injuries and fitness rather than chopping and changing the team too much based on performances in training. If O'Connor is dropped for the Watford match for example, I would be very disappointed. Let's hope the players do go out to prove a point to the manager about their ability rather than lacking confidence based on Keane's comments about desparately needing new players and massive changes being required. We should have players capable of beating Watford and hopefully getting at least 4 points from the Doncaster, Coventry and Nott'm Forest matches.

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bluetoba added 13:08 - Dec 23 Play as we did against Swansea and Leicester and another 3 points i feel. Coming together now??
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radiohead added 14:14 - Dec 23 Brian Murphy broke his ankle at training this morning.He will be out for at least two months. He is in the hospital at the moment.
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Bluetone added 14:50 - Dec 23 “Watford is our priority, I'm not kidding myself and looking too far ahead, but after that there will have to be changes.” O good does this mean it could be Keane's last game as manager?
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meekreech added 14:56 - Dec 23 Look at the EADT today to see stats on ITFC over last 10 years ! Make your mind up now about who would replace RK .
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itfc1981 added 16:40 - Dec 23 legoman, In the past Keane has rested players with a forcoming game in mind, with the result we lose the game at hand. hopefully now we will get the three points in the bag first, then worry about later games. We are not good enough to rest players in general.
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Daleyitfc added 16:49 - Dec 23 We're not down to our last 9 defensive central midfield players are we? We may have to play 2 goalkeepers then ...
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Back_The_Boss added 18:00 - Dec 23 Another must win, we can't let Watford do the double over us! COYB.
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tom_the_blue added 18:37 - Dec 23 I' like to see Priskin, I don't see why he was dropped as he was unplayable a few weeks ago in a number of games. Players usually score against their old club, o he should get a start, perhaps alongside Fallon, as Scotland never scores away. Although I'm not sure of the goalscoring threat between Fallon and Priskin, as they are both outside-of-the-box players.
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jas0999 added 19:09 - Dec 23 I would have thought every single club in the country will have to make changes to their team over the Christmas games - what, 4 games in 9 days? I'd personally start with Fallon and Scotland, they played well last game, but depends if they are injured! I don't blame Roy for not saying who the injured players are- why would we want the opposition to know?! Our record against Watford is terrible. No wons in 9 years now I think? Last win was a Bowditch hat-trick in a 4-0 win?

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Fatcatevans added 20:53 - Dec 23 tom the blue - 'scotland never scores anyway' - oh I must have imagined those two on saturday against leicester and the fact he's our leading scorer!
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