N'Daw Set to Make Debut at Boro
Friday, 14th Sep 2012 06:01

Season-long loan signing Guirane N’Daw looks set to make his Blues debut when Town take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday.

Manager Paul Jewell says the 28-year-old central midfielder, an unused sub against Huddersfield, has worked hard since he’s been at the club and with his 6ft 3in frame will be an important addition to the side: “It’s an area where we’re lacking. I think one of the reasons we brought Murph in was his physicality and the size of the team.

“We’re not the biggest team and in this league and even in the Premier League, you’ve got to have strong, powerful people in certain key areas.

“You can’t have a team of 20-footers, unless you’re Stoke, of course, but we do lack in that department and it’s an area that we need to improve on.

“We’ve obviously conceded too many goals from set plays and at times when it becomes a bit of a physical match, not through effort but through sheer physicality, we’ve missed out in that department. It’s not just about being big, it’s about being big and able to play. He’s big and he can play.”

The Town manager says the 44-times-capped Senegalese international has an impressive pedigree: “Guirane is competitive, he’s played for top teams, Zaragoza, St Etienne, Sochaux, he played 19 times for Birmingham last season, so he’s got experience.

“We’ve got some good players and with Massimo Luongo, Luke Hyam and Andy Drury, we’ve got good competition in there. We’ve got three games in the next week, so we will need our squad.”

With the central defensive ranks still lacking in numbers, N’Daw is one alternative option should Luke Chambers or Tommy Smith pick up an injury, although Jewell says he’s not the only one: “Jack Ainsley’s also played there and I thought he was smashing against Huddersfield.”

Ainsley looks set to drop out of the starting line-up in favour of regular right-back and skipper Carlos Edwards who is over his groin injury.

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Photo: Action Images

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Keaneish added 07:10 - Sep 14 Ainsley should keep his place and Edwards play on the right. Taylor up front with Chops. Martin/Murphy and JET from the bench.
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