Blues boss Paul Jewell returns to his old club Derby on Saturday with a fully fit squad but is considering changes as his side go into two games in three days. Town, who face Leicester at home on Monday, have only just ended their March run of eight matches, which the Blues manager felt was a lot to ask of his squad.

Jewell said: “We have had a really difficult month as far as games is concerned. It’s bordering on the ridiculous really to ask players to play Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday.

“When you do that the quality of the performance isn’t always good but I think our players have deserved credit because they’ve put an awful lot of work in and we’ve had some good results.

“It’s another test on Saturday. We’re travelling tomorrow, playing Saturday, training on Sunday and playing again on Monday.

“But in the old days you used to play Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, so maybe they’ve got it easy now!”

The Town boss was pleased to have a rare chance to work with his players on the training ground this week: “I think at this stage of the season it’s almost ticking over. We gave them Monday off, gave them a rest, but for the rest of the week we’ve been in and they’ve looked sharp.

“It’s nice to have a bit of a breather without a game and to try and get some functional work into them, just reminders, rather than having no time for training because we’ve got matches. It is nice to have a bit of a free week.”

Despite a fully fit squad — “touch wood, no injuries” — Jewell says he expects to utilise some of his fringe players over the long weekend: “I think one or two have played an awful lot of football of late, but so have the rest of the division.

“I keep on saying after every game that I’m going to have to change the squad around and then I don’t because I like people who are in the team to want to stay in it. But on Saturday and Monday we might have to seriously look at maybe using the whole squad.”

Photo: Action Images

Daleyitfc added 14:52 - Apr 5 More bulls**t. Professional players should be fully able to play every day if required. This sort of comment makes me spit.
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ian_marshall added 15:12 - Apr 5 Daily your a very angry person. You can get help. Talk to Frank.
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naa added 15:18 - Apr 5 Yeah Daley, you find something to be appalled about in every post. I can only assume you are joking or something. I don't think anyone is suggesting that the players couldn't play both matches, but simply that you might not get as good a performance out of them in the second match (maybe 85%). I think it's common sense, surely.
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Garv added 15:20 - Apr 5 Daleyitfc I think the manager of a football team knows more about fatigue than an often irate football fan. It's been quite clear that certain players have become a bit knackered over the last month. It happens. It's not a 'boo hoo, yawn I'm tired' kind of thing. It takes its toll on the body.
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Suffolk_n_Proud added 15:22 - Apr 5 Yes of course daley. Professional athelets should be able to run a marathon everyday or do a triathlon, swim a mile, etc etc all while performing excellentl and if T9 were able to do this you'd still find something to moan about
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ade_itfc added 15:28 - Apr 5 Dear Paul Can we get Steven hawkin upfront next year. Many thanks Daley
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mightytown added 15:36 - Apr 5 daleyitfc - what planet are you on? you seem to be suggesting that football players should be unaffected by fatigue? by the looks of your avatar, im guessing its been a while since you did any exercise, so i'll forgive your ramblings on this occasion as you obviously dont have a clue. are you a habitual masturbator? anyway, back to the footy, good luck to the lads as ever. think playoffs will be out of reach but am impressed with the effort and desire coming from everyone involved, a top 10 finish this season would be very encouraging. COYB

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mightytown added 15:41 - Apr 5 phil - will the players be wearing the new kit? or will it be worn between now and the end of the season? i happen to think its pretty smart and the video is pretty funny too, well done to the club
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Ipswich24 added 16:16 - Apr 5 I have played at a decent level and to play two games in three days is very demanding. It is nothing to do with being physically fit. It takes it out of your muscles especially at the end of a long season.
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Sibelius8 added 16:25 - Apr 5 ade_itfc: If your comment is a reference to Stephen Hawking, it is an incredibly offensive thing to say. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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suffolkpuncher added 16:55 - Apr 5 Yeah Daley!!!!
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beerhelps added 17:42 - Apr 5 lay off Daley! poking fun at him is one of the things that keeps me going while I wait for Basil Smallpiece to reappear!
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jas0999 added 20:05 - Apr 5 I fear the reception for PJ will not be great! The majority of Derby fans still accuse PJ of ruining their club. one up front football, relying on injury prone has been's ...
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osborne1nil added 21:02 - Apr 5 It can't be as bad as the comments he gets on here from you week in week out Jas0999, irrespective of if we win, lose or draw, there must be something for you to find to have a go at PJ on everything that Phil puts on here, very tiresome! I bet if you had an avatar it would be as happy and joyful as Daleyitfc's one!
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s6blue added 22:09 - Apr 5 come on town 3-0
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Keaneish added 23:18 - Apr 5 Good record against Derby in recent times. Has to be a win but my head says draw and pretty much the end of the play off chase...
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C_HealyIsAPleasure added 01:38 - Apr 6 jas0999 - somehow I imagine it will be similar to last year, and that hardly did us much harm
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Pessimistic added 08:25 - Apr 6 I predict a 2-1 win to Town which would keep are extraordinarily slim hopes of the play-off places aline....just.
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algarvefan added 09:20 - Apr 6 Pessimistic that's optimistic!
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Sindre94 added 21:48 - Apr 6 Jas , please stop this
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