Town manager Joe Royle is still negotiating to bring a striker to Portman Road and has suggested the player he is after plays for a club still in Europe, leading to speculation that Arsenal's Francis Jeffers may be the man.

The new Town boss, who is also on the look-out for a defender, says he hopes to have a front man here by the weekend: "I am optimistic but not super-confident that we will get someone in before Friday."

However, if not he will continue his search next week. He has ruled out a swoop for Leeds' Michael Bridges who is not fully fit.

Better news on the striker front is that Alun Armstrong will be fit for the weekend after picking up a hamstring problem against Crystal Palace.

Royle is so short of strikers that he is going to play Darren Bent up front with Finidi George behind him this evening against Middlesbrough, giving Richard Logan a run out later on.

Middlesbrough are set to play a line-up made up of youngsters and fringe players as they did against Walsall in the last round. Players like Carlos Marinelli, Luke Wilkshire, Mark Wilson and Tony Vidmar are likely to get starts.

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