Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that Arran Lee-Barrett will start in goal when the Blues take on Derby County at Portman Road on Saturday. David Stockdale returned to parent club Fulham yesterday, while Richard Wright is still on his way back after his shoulder injury.

Jewell said: “Arran will play on Saturday. Richard hasn’t trained fully since he’s been injured. Although we got beaten by Burnley, I thought Arran was our best player, so it’s an opportunity for him.”

Skipper Grant Leadbitter could come back into the reckoning after his groin problem: “Grant’s been training this week, so if he comes through the rest of the week he’ll be considered.”

Meanwhile, with Danny Collins set to return to his parent club Stoke after this weekend’s game, Jewell says central defensive pair Damien Delaney, who recently underwent foot surgery, and Ívar Ingimarsson are both nearing returns: “Damien’s been making decent progress with the physio.

“Ívar’s been training with the physio, he hasn’t had any contact because he’s broken his nose, but I’m hoping that this time next week they’ll both be fit.”

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 10:20 - Dec 15 Humbug?
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SouperJim added 10:27 - Dec 15 Please prove me wrong Arran
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Mark added 10:30 - Dec 15 Lee-Barrett has had more good games than bad games for Ipswich, and although he's not really the standard we want he is okay as a backup and hopefully won't let us down. The worst thing is all the changes coming up to our defence, when we need some stability.
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Pessimistic added 10:30 - Dec 15 I am pleased for Arran Lee-Barrett and if he plays well which I believe he will, he could cement his place in the team. Now we have two local lads behind the sticks for Town which is nice. No matter how good David Stockdale was, and let's face it he tried his best, he could not prevent us leaking a lot of goals - including seven against Petterborough and five against Southampton. He is still very much on a learning curve and like a good wine he will mature with time. Arran Lee-Barrett deserves this chance because although we lost to Burnley 4-0 he was lagely blamless and he made some excellent saves in the process.

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Wickets added 10:41 - Dec 15 Lets hope he holds it together, lets hope its not one of his rabbit in headlights displays!!
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soupytwist added 10:43 - Dec 15 Will Cropper be on the bench?
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Golaboots added 10:55 - Dec 15 oh God. I'm going for us letting in 4 this time, so about average.
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chislehurstblue added 10:56 - Dec 15 If Wright was fit he would play. Why do you think PJ signed Wright and played him when Stockdale was injured over ALB. Obviously he doesn't rate ALB.
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JewellintheTown added 10:58 - Dec 15 Nooooooo!!!!! Leadbitter might be back! Quick, someone kick him in the nuts. Re: ALB, I think he's fine in goal. Doesnt seem to matter which keeper's in goal at the moment with the defense so unsettled and leaking badly, but hopefuly ALB will show the defense and supporters what he's capable of and good luck to him.
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brogansnose added 10:58 - Dec 15 It's all down the defence and those in front of the goalkeeper because we shoud'nt be putting the goalie in the position of having to make so many saves. As Jewell says, ALB in goal at Burnley, best performer in our team and we still concede 4. How many good performances has Stockdale put in and we have still been twonked? Should not be happening.
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bluenut added 11:04 - Dec 15 We have no other option so less moan and lets give him the support that he needs. Personally I hope he proves the whinging minority wrong and puts in an awesome performance. Come on you BLUES !!!!
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parkinshair added 11:07 - Dec 15 Wish people would get off ALB's back. When he was called upon due to injurys to Wright and Murphy I think it was at the time. He put in some excellent performances. It seems to me that people like to make him the scape goat over a poor team performance against Norwich.
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tractorboybig added 11:13 - Dec 15 Stockdale is history. lets get on with it. until we sort the defence and midfield out to give the keeper some protection we could play mickey mouse there. Anyway ALB will shine.
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KenDubZ added 11:19 - Dec 15 Knock us out barrett I believe in you shame we lost stockdale but in you we trust COYBS!!!
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UsualSuspect added 11:23 - Dec 15 Agree with Mark, not great but better than given credit for by some. Although I don't see them in training every day, I don't think Grant Leadbitter should walk straight back into the side, captain or not.
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footyblue added 11:24 - Dec 15 Wickets I dont think he has ever had one of them games and prefer him to Wright
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planetblue_2011 added 11:38 - Dec 15 It's good alb has got his chance! It's the back 4 in front of him I'm worried about. Fingers crossed they can put in a good performance again.
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buryblue77 added 12:02 - Dec 15 Although I'm not entirely sure he's quite up to being a Championship regular we do need to give him a break. I think the likes of Cech, Buffon, Casillas etc would struggle with our defence the way it performs at times.
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Surco72 added 12:21 - Dec 15 ALB will do fine as he always has and we will get Loach in January ,he will certainly do no worse than Stockdale as with all the raving about an England squad player i didnt think he was all that and a number of goals we have conceded on this bad run were down to him Barnsley for example 1st should have got to the ball first pulled back ,2nd beaten at near post from a corner , 3rd stood behind wall and beaten by a free kick in middle of goal

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tellitasiseeit added 12:46 - Dec 15 ALB will be fine, He will do his job keeping them out,if the defense does there job also. We can not keep blaming ALB as being no good if he does not play regular? and when he doe's the defense lets him and the team down. Lets get behind all of the Team,let them know we support each and every one of them? ( For the time being) COYB
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Tractamatt added 12:49 - Dec 15 More concerned that the attitude seems to be that Collins is of but it's alright Delaney and Ingamarsson are NEARLY fit.I pray that we either have Collins back or a replacement by january 2nd.
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irishtim added 12:50 - Dec 15 Lets give the lad a chance he deserves that much
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Lesta_Tractor added 12:52 - Dec 15 well, we're boned!
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simonsays added 13:02 - Dec 15 I can see another heavy defeat on the horizon!
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The_suffolk_punch added 13:03 - Dec 15 Looked OK at burnley despite the score. C'mon Aaran time to shine!
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