Town boss Paul Jewell will be weighing up whether to stick with youngsters such as Josh Carson, Luke Hyam, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Tommy Smith or recall some of his fit-again senior players when the Blues take on Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon. Last week’s youthful line-up impressed as they drew 2-2 at home to Blackpool.

The Town manager has skipper Grant Leadbitter (hip) and central defender Damien Delaney (foot) available again after injuries, while striker Jason Scotland is expected to be fine after suffering a hamstring problem at the end of the draw with the Seasiders.

Jewell says that in addition to those three, midfielder Jimmy Bullard is getting stronger after his recent illness: “Jimmy’s training, he came on last week having trained for only a couple of days. It was a really nasty virus he had.

“He’s been in training this week, so it’s only Lee Bowyer out of the senior players who isn’t fit.”

Ultimately, the Town boss will probably keep faith with last week’s XI with Hyam and Andy Drury having formed a feisty central midfield partnership against Ian Holloway’s men, while Lee Martin was employed in a free role behind lone out-and-out striker Scotland.

Carson and Emmanuel-Thomas are likely to continue on the left and right of midfield respectively with Alex McCarthy in goal, Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Edwards the full-backs and Smith and Ibrahima Sonko at centre-half.

The Blues boss says Leeds will have been missing skipper Jonny Howson, even before his still ongoing move to Norwich: “He’s been injured anyway and I think they’ve missed him since he’s been injured.

“They’ve got Robert Snodgrass back, which is a big boost for them and he scored against Crystal Palace last week.

“Leeds are another team who have aspirations of being in the Premier League, and in fact the Champions League. It’s not that long since they were in the Champions League.

“That’s the level of difficulty of this division; everyone thinks they should be in the Premier League, they’ve got a great history, great support, they’ve done this, done that.”

He has praise for his Leeds counterpart Simon Grayson, who played for him during his time as Bradford boss: “I think the manager there has done a fine job. People have been talking about him being under pressure, which I think is quite amazing really.

“Who am I to be talking about people being under pressure, but I think he’s done a terrific job - they got relegated three years ago, they almost got promoted the first season after they were promoted [from League One], they had a terrific season last year and are on the edge of the play-offs again this year.

“It’s a hard place to go to, Elland Road,“ he added. “It’s a hostile ground, so, like every game in this league, and I say it every week, it’s not going to be easy.”

While Howson has all but departed, the Whites have re-signed former midfielder Fabian Delph on loan from Aston Villa. Winger Robert Snodgrass could return to the starting line-up having recently undergone an appendix operation.

Central defender Paddy Kisnorbo is out for the season due to a knee injury, while new signing Robbie Rogers is still waiting for the paperwork to go through on his move from MLS side Columbus Crew.

Historically, Leeds have the superior record in the fixture, winning 26 (25 in the league) clashes between the teams, Town have been victorious on 23 (18) occasions and with 19 (16) games ending in draws.

In August, Scotland and Keith Andrews — a Whites target in the summer and reportedly again now - scored the goals as the Blues came from behind to beat 10-man Leeds United 2-1 at Portman Road.

The visitors dominated the first half and went in front via Ross McCormack, but after the break Leeds had Aidan White sent off for pulling down Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Scotland and then Andrews’s deflected last-minute strike saw Town to the points.

At Elland Road in March, Town recorded only their second 0-0 draw of the 2010/11 season as they left West Yorkshire with a deserved point.

Both sides could have been in front at the break after an end-to-end first period, Tamás Priskin and Lee Martin missing the Blues’ best opportunities. In the second half Town rarely threatened but their backline held firm.

Alex Bruce joined the Whites from Town in the summer of 2010 and former Blues loanee Darren O’Dea moved to Elland Road, also on loan, from Celtic during this close season.

Andros Townsend, who is on loan at Leeds from Spurs, was with the Blues on the same basis last season, making 14 starts and two sub appearances, scoring one goal.

Lee Bowyer, who misses the match with a groin injury, was with Leeds between 1996 and 2003, making 257 starts and eight sub appearances, scoring 55 goals. Keeper Alex McCarthy made six appearances during a loan spell at Leeds before Christmas, enjoying his time at Elland Road.

Town fitness coach Andy Liddell is from Leeds and is a supporter of the club, while boss Paul Jewell’s family home is a “nine iron away" from the hotel where the Blues are staying ahead of the game.

Prior to the match, the North of England Branch of the Supporters Club are holding their AGM with Kevin Beattie, Alex Mathie and Simon Clegg all attending. All fans are welcome to come along. Full details here.

Saturday’s referee is Geoff Eltringham from Sunderland, who has shown 54 yellow cards and three red in 24 games so far this season. Eltringham has never refereed either the Blues or the Whites before.

Squad from: McCarthy, Lee-Barrett, Wright, Edwards, Cresswell, Ainsley, Sonko, Smith, Delaney, Hyam, Drury, Bullard, Leadbitter, Martin, Emmanuel-Thomas, Carson, Murphy, Scotland, Chopra, Ellington.

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 15:24 - Jan 20 Wonderful! I believe we have the right manager, in Jewell we trust! A win tomorrow and then get 3 or 4 players in by west ham, would do good:) COYB! Beat the Leeds sc*m
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Rossm added 15:25 - Jan 20 Hahaha! This just goes to show they Posters on the below article just love to whinge. Jewell has had a shocker.... doesnt mean he will do the wrong thing everytime. The Pompey takeover falling through could work for or against us... time will tell on that one.
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walberswick added 15:35 - Jan 20 Pj desciosion making has been rubbish all season. Last week he was forced into to select that team by circumstances. So, given the choice it'll be all change tommorow. Leeds 3 Ipswich 3 (0-2 HT)
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arc added 15:44 - Jan 20 Bullard is just coming back??–what did he have, the plague?
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Surco72 added 15:47 - Jan 20 McCarthy , Edwards,Sonko,Smith,Cresswell Drury,Bullard,Hyam,Martin Chopra,Scotland ALB,Ainsley,Leadbitter,Jet,Carson 2-1 Town Chopra,Sonko
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irishtim added 15:57 - Jan 20 Keep the faith with last selection
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village_blue added 15:58 - Jan 20 If he was to be thinking of changing the team the only position he should alter would be in goal. McCartney's kicking is woeful and he presented Blackpool with 2 goals last week, the 1st he played pat a cake with the ball and presented it to Grandin who couldn't miss , and the 2nd he shouldn't have been beaten at his near post.
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Brazils_Hair added 15:58 - Jan 20 Lets be positive. We played well last week. If JET and Smith keep on improving we will be laughing. They are just what we need. I feel a lot more optimistic than I did a couple of weeks ago. Even ME has actually come out and put a few things in print. We now just need Clegg to get an understanding of what 'Football' is and anything could happen. I still think Bowyer looks like that chap who killed Mikey Tandino in Beverley Hills Cop.

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village_blue added 16:01 - Jan 20 Sorry should have got McCarthy's name right.
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Punchless added 16:05 - Jan 20 The media and supporters have given you an easy time considering the poor season we've had so far, if you drop the youngsters and loose tomorrow, you will be under tremendous pressure. In Jewell we don't trust!
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footyblue added 16:16 - Jan 20 Definitely swap ALB for McCartney as he has looked at fault for all 4 goals conceded since he has been in goal. but he should start with the same 10 outfield player
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bigolconnor added 16:26 - Jan 20 Punchless- it's lose not loose. Just saying.
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Skip73 added 16:31 - Jan 20 walberswick; Are you saying we'll be 2-0 up at half time tomorrow and end up losing 3-0? I know we've thrown a few leads away this season but that'd take the biscuit!
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Skip73 added 16:34 - Jan 20 Sorry walberswick I didn't read your post properly I thought you predicted 3-0 to Leeds not 3-3, my apologies
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alfromcol added 16:38 - Jan 20 village_blue footyblue I have seen little from McCartney that suggests that he is an improvement on ALB. Any more mistakes against Leeds and ALB should return for the West Ham game. I don't believe he should have been replaced by McCartney anyway.
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sereneblue added 17:00 - Jan 20 Put ALB back in goal.McCarthy's heart isn't with Ipswich.
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tractorboy2434 added 17:25 - Jan 20 Another defeat beckons, 2-0 Leeds.
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WarkyWonderLand added 17:42 - Jan 20 Surely has to keep the same team as last week. Leadboots offers us the sideways crab movement and little else. Don't forget people, although last week was a better performance its wins we need. No win for a month and 2 in 14. It does appear that although old cleggy said there would be a tipping point they are going to stick with him. Last week wasn't a managerial master stroke, his hands were tied. If he brings leadboots back in he will lose what support he has left from fans. However, I do fancy us sneaking a 2-1 win cos everything isn't rosy at elland road. Coyb Ps, please come back on here H32. It's just not the same and I am as frustrated as you.

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petermorris added 18:06 - Jan 20 Warky etc - h32 has gone. He's moved to Russia with Priskin.
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muccletonjoe added 18:42 - Jan 20 and so he should keep faith with them . They did him proud last week
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alfromcol added 19:03 - Jan 20 h32 was Priskin!
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TimmyH added 19:14 - Jan 20 yep stick with the youngsters or as closed too as possible from the Blackpool game, Leeds are in a right ol pickle at the moment with some of their bigger name players going. Fancy an upset 2-1 to us.
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harlingblue added 19:35 - Jan 20 PJ please keep the youth in the team, Smith, Hyam, Carson, Jet, Martin, (old Cresswell). Make Drury your playmaker, Scotland your main attacker, Sonko, Edwards and ALB to complete the starting line up (although McCarthy would want to do well against his former loan club?). Please teach Edwards and Cresswell to cover the centre backs, and not both attack at the same time, and finally, if we are in the lead in the closing stages...defend in the opposition half ie ATTACK?

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fourth added 19:37 - Jan 20 Character, determination, fitness, teamwork...and a bit of skill. We have so far to go in coaching and creating team spirit.
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jas0999 added 20:22 - Jan 20 I am looking forward to seeing our new players tomorrow - after broken promises all Summer, surely PJ would not - yet again - talk up the possibility of new signings - before erm, failing to deliver? Not all PJ's fault - clearly Clegg is failing miserably. We have known for months that we were going to be short at CB's - yet 20th of January and still no new permanent signing. The early posters are clearly happy with this - good for them. I am not. I am sorry, but even TWTD seem to be fearing the wrath of ITFC, Headlines such as 'Jewell Looks Set to Keep Faith in Youngsters at Leeds' is of course a red herring. Any ITFC fan can see the ONLY reason for this is because the club have FAILED to improve the squad this week. Pathetic. PJ OUT

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