Town boss Joe Royle will be without both John McGreal and Marcus Bent when the Blues travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City in the East Anglian derby on Sunday. Recalled to the Blues starting line-up is keeper Andy Marshall who will face his old side for the second time this season.

Town are not risking either McGreal (back) or Bent (hamstring). Better news is that gastroenteritis victim Richard Naylor is back in training despite losing 11lbs in three days while ill. Naylor looks set to start alongside Darren Bent in the attack. Nabil Abidallah is also over the same virus as Naylor, although he hasn't lost anything like the same amount of weight.

Skipper Matt Holland looks likely to move into a back three alongside Thomas Gaardsøe and Chris Makin (fit after a dead leg), with youngster Matt Richards probably taking the suspended Hermann Hreidarsson's regular left wing-back role.

Veteran defender Mark Venus is said to be progressing well after his knee operation and is two weeks away from a game. The Blues are still awaiting the results of a scan on Finidi George's injured hip.

The Town manager has confirmed that Andy Marshall will play in goal after being dropped for last week's home draw with Grimsby. Royle says he has spoken with Marshall about Sunday's big game: "It's a hard game for him to say the least. It was a hard task for him coming here bearing in mind his Norwich connections, and on top of that following Richard Wright who had been so successful here.

"I've had a good chat with Andy about it, he knows he's not been at his best and he knows it will be great for him if he makes himself a hero on Sunday by keeping a clean sheet. That's what I've put to Andy and he's up for it."

The Blues' boss has confirmed that Dean Bowditch would be in Sunday's squad but is playing down earlier newspaper speculation that he is set to make his debut: "The kid will be in the squad, that's all I'll say at the moment. We are still waiting on the senior players to see what part he'll play, but he will be in the initial squad.

"He's doing very well, we're quietly delighted with him, but I'm not going to get carried away at this stage. I know if called upon he's not going to let us down but let's not forget he's still an U17 never mind an U19 or a reserve. But we're very pleased with him."

Royle is keeping quiet regarding the system his side will employ, although a return to the 3-5-2 formation which served his side so well over Christmas looks on the cards: "I'm not talking about systems at the moment, until I know exactly who is available it is hard to say how we're going to play at this stage. There are pros and cons for both systems, but we weren't keeping clean sheets even with three centre-halves.

"We have been more prolific playing with a 4-3-3, even in our worst performance last week we still scored two. So, goals haven't been a problem, we scored two against Wolves playing a 4-3-3. But it's about players not systems."

As a player Royle appeared for Norwich in East Anglian derbies, he says that all derbies are much the same: "All derbies are frantic and mean a lot. I think sometimes foreigners or non-locals coming into these games can be astounded. I'm not astounded as I've seen them from all angles.

"I've been a Liverpool lad in a local derby there and you expect it a little more. But once you're out there the side which can settle and play a more composed passing game will have a chance. Despite one or two criticisms of us last week, I still think we're a passing side."

Royle says he has been impressed with Sunday's opponents: "I think they have done extremely well. They've got a strong home record and all praise to Nigel. They are not an obvious team of stars but they are a team who work hard for each other and they'll make it hard for us."

Norwich have injury problems of their own in addition to Steen Nedergaard and Malky Mackay who are both suspended. Manager Nigel Worthington outlined his side's casualty list: "[Darel] Russell is almost certainly out with the ankle knock he picked up in training last week, [Phil] Mulryne is still struggling with the back injury that prevented him playing in the recent games against Sheffield United and Gillingham and Healy is still troubled by his hamstring injury.

"Russell is very much touch and go, Holt is touch and go, Mulryne less than touch and go and Healy extremely doubtful.

"We're biding our time with one or two of them, giving them as much time as possible. I would say Gary Holt might have the edge on one or two of those."

Squad: Abidallah, Ambrose, D Bent, Bowditch, Gaardsøe, Holland, Magilton, Makin, Marshall, Naylor, Pullen, Reuser, Richards, Miller, Wilnis, Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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