Marcus Bent has emeged as a new doubt after he injured his back in training on Sunday. The Town striker is set to be replaced with either Darren Bent or Pablo Couñago.

Marcus Bent will have a fitness test today with George Burley saying: "We will say how Marcus goes. We won't know how bad it is until we have a look at him during the day."

Alun Armstrong seems to have established himself as George Burley's first choice striker since Marcus Stewart received his injury and he himself recovered from a virus. Richard Naylor, who committed himself to Town over the weekend, could also be in with a chance of playing some role, although Bent junior and Couñago look the more likely.

Jamie Clapham has not trained over the weekend due to his swollen knee. With Martijn Reuser not ready until next week and Ulrich Le Pen only ready for reserve action on Wednesday against Chelsea, Sixto Peralta may get an opportunity on the left of midfield. Jermaine Wright has also played this role in the past.

Jim Magilton has recovered from his thigh problem while Finidi George is almost certain to play in the right of Town's midfield.

At the back John McGreal is fit again and may continue alongside Mark Venus in the centre of defence, although Titus Bramble may get a shout ahead of the ex-Tranmere man.

Town skipper Matt Holland says he is determined to score the first goal this evening: "Ideally, I would like to score the first goal against Aston Villa and we go on and win the game. We didn't score enough goals from midfield last season and we have not done so again this season, so we need to try harder. At the moment we are not scoring enough goals and the whole team can help out with that."

For Villa David Ginola is suspended while Alpay, Hassan Kachloul, Mustapha Hadji and Mark Delaney are all missing. Peter Schmeichel looks likely to return. Paul Merson is set to start up front with Dion Dublin with Juan Pablo Angel on the bench.

Kachloul, who changed his mind about joining Town in the summer, says on his Icons.com website that he made the right decision to join Villa in the summer: "I will go and watch the game and though I won't be going into the dressing rooms, if I meet anyone from Ipswich then there will be no problem — I have no animosity with anybody. I made my choice and I'm really happy with it and nothing can prove me wrong today. I went to a club with ambition and a club who play really good football — everyone said it was a money thing, but I proved everybody wrong. Just look at the league table."

He adds that he didn't expect Town to be in the position they are; "I'm surprised that Ipswich are bottom of the league because they are still a club that plays really attractive football. I still think that if you play good football you will always get results and I think Ipswich will get out of the relegation zone. It will take time, but when you've got a good base and you pass the ball and play good football you will get results in the end."

Aston Villa fans plan to protest against Doug Ellis and his board at tonight's game.

This evening's referee is Mike Dean from the Wirral.

Photo: Action Images

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