 Monday, 3rd Jan 2011 02:00 Town boss Roy Keane says he will make changes for today’s home game against his former club Nottingham Forest with some of his players unable to play two games in three days (KO 3pm). Central defender Gareth McAuley looks set to be amongst those dropping out having returned to action after achilles surgery at Coventry on Saturday. Keane says Jaime Peters picked up a niggle when playing at right-back at the Ricoh Arena and could be one of those from Saturday’s team moving to the bench: “Jaime got a knock, a couple of boys who started will hardly be involved. “There are a couple players at the club at this moment in time not capable of playing two games in three days because they are coming back from injury. There will be changes, there have to be. “There are others fighting for their chance, people like Jake Livermore, Troy came on at Coventry, Tom Eastman, Damien Delaney, Tamás Priskin, Colin Healy and Luca. Mark Kennedy will come back into it." Keane was pleased to see McAuley back in his side at Coventry: “Gareth’s return was one of the positives but the problem now with Gareth is that he won’t be able to play on Monday and Rory Fallon won’t be capable to play on Monday either [having undergone hernia surgery earlier in the season]. These boys are getting up to fitness and we’ll see how Connor is as well. “It was a plus, it was a gamble, but Gareth is an important player for us. We threw Gareth in and it looks like he came through the game OK, but we’ll get a better idea [on Sunday] if there’s been any reaction. “I talked to Gareth on Friday and it was a bit of a gamble, but life’s a gamble sometimes and he did well for us.” Town are definitely without keeper Brian Murphy, who is out of action for three months after breaking his ankle, and Shane O’Connor, who dislocated and ruptured his shoulder in training on Christmas Eve and is sidelined for six weeks. Luke Hyam is unlikely to be back before next week after suffering a setback during his recovery from his torn hamstring. Márton Fülöp is likely to continue in goal, despite being amongst those criticised by Keane for Coventry’s goal on Saturday, while Troy Brown could come in at right-back with Jaime Peters having been given a hard time by Forest at the City Ground and having picked up the knock on Saturday. Keane will have to choose between Mark Kennedy and Darren O’Dea for the left-back role. The on-loan Celtic man may also be in the running to replace Gareth McAuley in the centre of the defence along with Damien Delaney, unless the Blues boss chooses to spring another surprise and include the Northern Irishman for the second time in three days. Tommy Smith will probably continue in the other central defensive position. In midfield, Keane will probably stick with skipper David Norris, Grant Leadbitter and Jack Colback, but Carlos Edwards may be rested. That could see Jake Livermore returning to the centre of the midfield with David Norris switching to the right. Up front, Connor Wickham could replace Rory Fallon with Jason Scotland likely to continue in the deeper striking role. Fallon and Ronan Murray could play some part from the bench. Forest will be missing left-back Ryan Bertrand (hamstring), while skipper Paul McKenna could be back after a virus. Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is available for the final time before his loan spell comes to an end. David McGoldrick, a scorer in the game between the sides earlier in the season, has a knee problem and is unlikely to be involved, while long-term injury victim Dexter Blackstock remains sidelined with a knee ligament injury. Aside from Keane having spent three years at the City Ground under Brian Clough at the start of his career, Lee Martin — who is currently with Charlton - was on loan with the Tricky Trees in 2008/09 and coach Tony Loughlan was a Nottingham Forest player between 1989 and 1993, injury limiting him to only two appearances and a goal scored after 36 seconds of his debut. Coach Ian ‘Charlie’ McParland also worked at Forest as a coach and was caretaker-manager at the City Ground. No current Forest player has played for Town. Historically, the visitors very much have the upper hand, winning 30 of the games between the two sides (27 in the league), 14 (13) ending in draws and Town winning 18 (17). At the end of October, the Blues were beaten 2-0 at the City Ground. David McGoldrick put the home team in front and Lewis McGugan’s thunderbolt freekick increased their lead before the break. Jack Colback’s shot against the bar was the closest Town would come to a goal. In last season’s corresponding fixture, Forest left Portman Road with a 1-1 draw. The Blues took the lead in the opening minute via Grant Leadbitter, but sub Robert Earnshaw hit back in the second half immediately after coming on, while Gareth McAuley was red-carded close to the end for a professional foul. The match is being screened live on TV in various countries, including the US, Norway and Sweden. If you’re abroad and know a venue where Town supporters are watching the game or on which channel it can be found, add a comment below. Today’s referee is Darren Sheldrake from Surrey, who has shown 37 yellow and three red cards in 13 games so far this season. Sheldrake will be taking control of only his fourth Championship match and has never refereed the Blues or Forest before. Squad from: Fülöp, Lee-Barrett, Brown, Peters, O’Dea, Kennedy, Smith, McAuley, Delaney, Eastman, Norris, Leadbitter, Colback, Edwards, Livermore, Civelli, Healy, Scotland, Wickham, Fallon, Murray, Priskin.
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