Former Blues striker Jon Stead is expected start for Bristol City against Town at Portman Road on Saturday having recovered from a groin injury. The Robins, who are currently fourth from bottom, will be looking to close the five-point gap between them and the Blues.

The 29-year-old, who came on as a sub in a 2-0 home defeat to another of his old clubs Derby last week after a month out, told ThisisBristol that the Christmas games could be pivotal for his side: "It's a hugely important period for us and Ipswich is a massive game.

"We're under no illusions as to where we can be and where we don't want to be at the end of the festive period.

"Obviously, you want the gap to be as small as possible and the last thing you need is to be losing sight of the teams immediately above you.

"It's about keeping all those clubs around you as close as you can. If you do that, then a win can take you up two or three places rather than just closing a gap.”

Stead, who was with the Blues between September 2008 and August 2010, scoring 20 goals in 42 starts and 25 sub appearances, is expected to come into the XI for Ryan Taylor, who is set to miss out with a hamstring injury.

Also likely to start is Republic of Ireland international left-back Greg Cunningham, who is over an ankle ligament problem and also came on as a sub against Derby.

Midfielder Cole Skuse is back in contention after a broken cheekbone and central defenders Louis Carey and Lewin Nyatanga are also available again having been sidelined with calf and hernia problems respectively.

On-loan Liverpool defender Danny Wilson is not expected to travel having suffered a hamstring injury.

Photo: Action Images

alexsmith111 added 15:22 - Dec 20 Personally think he shouldn't have been sold
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ericclacton added 15:26 - Dec 20 I thought he was a half decent player with us.
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fourth added 15:28 - Dec 20 Excellent player
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andys_legg added 15:32 - Dec 20 He was like the Ipswich Messi
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MattinLondon added 15:47 - Dec 20 Not a bad scoring ratio for us... Personally I liked him as a player and didn't want him to be sold.
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MattinLondon added 15:49 - Dec 20 On a side note does anyone know which team it is in the background of the main picture? That is one awful looking shirt.
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brian_a_mul added 15:51 - Dec 20 20 goals in 42 starts is a good strike rate! I always like Jon and rated him. Bristol City have a good squad when fit. Problems with change on manager has disrupted their start to the season. I expect City to progess in the second half of the season, hopefully we can pick up 3 pts here and progress before they do!!
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Jimmys_Law added 15:54 - Dec 20 @MattinLondon. I think that was Crystal Palace's away kit. And you're right, any yellow football kit looks awful.
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Tractorcookie added 15:59 - Dec 20 Any kit in yellow AND green looks even worse!!
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OldClactonBlue added 16:10 - Dec 20 Sorry, he is rubbish.
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muhrensleftfoot added 16:18 - Dec 20 Brian_a_mul - re Bristol city manager, he's been there since October 2011, so had most of last season, and all pre-season with them. I am surprised they are struggling because they spent some decent money in the close season.
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Edmunds5 added 16:28 - Dec 20 The team is Crystal Palace, the guy behind Stead is......Peter Ramage! Thought he did a decent enough job for us, he was touted as a huge prospect when he was at huddersfield but he went to Blackburn and things didn't quite turn out, defensively I feel we can get at Bristol CIty, they seem to concede for fun but I think they're a threat in terms of going forward what with Adomah, Stead, Baldock and S.Davies, also worried as not only have we had Stead on our books, S.Davies and Baldock were linked, hopefully this wont come back to haunt us though.

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ChrisMakin2012 added 16:40 - Dec 20 Superb player. Will be getting a huge cheer when announced Saturday.
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Lowestoft_Blue added 16:43 - Dec 20 Will always remember his goals against N*rwich and Reading. Am I right, that he scored on his first appearance at home to reading, with town winning 2-0 Jon Walters the other goal scorer.
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greentractorboy added 16:58 - Dec 20 any chance we could swap chopra for him in the jan sales
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itfc24 added 17:03 - Dec 20 I agree should never have been sold was a half decent player and certainly no worse than what we have on our books at the moment. The irony was of course he was in his best form he had ever been for us when he left.
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itfchorry added 17:09 - Dec 20 Always liked Steady - shame he left - Hope he gets a good welcome
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warbeat78 added 17:29 - Dec 20 Think they will come at us on saturday, two good away results against sh/wed & middlesbrough stuck 3 in the net those 2 games. But can see us getting narrow victory after the leeds game the team should be well up for this fixture.
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Fatboy added 18:21 - Dec 20 Always liked Stead; a good striker of the ball but his first touch was truly awful!
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TractorCam added 18:55 - Dec 20 Didn't we sell him around the time we sold Walters as well? If so that was a double loss right there
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Mark added 18:57 - Dec 20 20 goals is not bad going, I must have missed most of these as I didn't think he played that much! I remember being unhappy at his sale, as Stead was in good form then and Keane sold him cheaply a short time after paying big money for Priskin. I heard Stead was on big wages, so maybe that was partly the reason he departed.
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WickedBlue added 20:11 - Dec 20 This is almost laughable! How many of you who is now saying what a wonderful player Stead is was screaming no when Magilton bought him shouting that he was a panic but? Come be truthful there were a lot on this sight. And no I wasn't one.
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Talbs77 added 20:48 - Dec 20 He was never Maradona but he never pretended to be. He reminds me of Peter Crouch, a good goals per game ratio but becuase of his physic, a bit unfashionable. No doubt he was sold too early, another Keane clanger!
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Taricco_Fan added 21:11 - Dec 20 Another decent player who was shipped-out for no good reason and wasn't replaced with better players.
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warkthisway added 21:30 - Dec 20 Short memories you lot he was s--t
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