Town manager Joe Royle is waiting on four fitness tests on Saturday morning before picking his side to face Stoke City. Marcus Bent, Jim Magilton, Fabian Wilnis and Darren Ambrose are all doubts, but better news is that Hermann Hreidarsson is back from his four-match suspension.

Royle says that of the four he is most confident that he will have Wilnis available: “Fabian had similar the other day and he came through to play, although he had to come off. I would think the biggest doubts would be Jim, with a tight hamstring, and Darren Ambrose, who is still suffering after the tackle at Norwich. But I think Fabian will be OK.

“Marcus, I don't know about. He's trained today fine, he's done everything we asked of him and he'll just have a fitness test tomorrow to make sure. I would hope he's better than 50/50.”

Royle has immediately recalled Hermann Hreidarsson for the game after his suspension but he has been pleased with the performances of Matt Richards in his absence and predicts big things for the 18-year-old: “I've already told the kid that Hermann's playing. The kid's been fantastic for two games and having come into the side with us not quite sure how he'd do he's won the respect of all the lads because of the way he's played.

“He's got a big future here but the time is right for experience and strength and Hermann's got those in abundance. Besides, playing against half the Icelandic team on Saturday ought to motivate him!”

Until he knows which players are available Royle says he won't decide which formation he will use, although if the majority come through their tests a 3-5-2 looks virtually certain.

John McGreal will be back in training next week after a back injury and will need a couple of weeks after that before he is ready for the first team. Royle feels that he probably shouldn't have played in the Grimsby game recently after returning from his previous injury.

Mark Venus is back in training and has had a minor set-back but nothing too serious. He is still a month or so away from a return.

Royle says Town have watched Saturday's opponents: “We've seen them a couple of times. They're battling for their lives. I know Tony Pulis, we had many battles when I was at Man City against Gillingham including, of course, the famous play-off game.

“They'll be having a go. Tony's teams always have a go. They had a great win in midweek and they'll be lifted by that. There are no easy games in this league, we saw that when Grimsby came here the other week that sides do raise themselves when they come here.

“If we play at our best, and we play as we did against Norwich, I fancy us against anybody, but we've got to be right on the day. We can't afford too many slip-ups. We're going round the home turn now and we're heading towards the straight and we need to put a good run together.

“It's in our own hands with the games we've got to play, and the fact that we have got players coming back. Hermann coming back will be a big boost.”

Stoke have an injury doubt over right-back Wayne Thomas who travelled with their squad but is being treated for a bruised knee and a calf knock.

Loanee from Leeds Frazer Richardson is likely to come in for Thomas if he doesn't make it, although he may otherwise deputise Bjarni Gudjonsson on the right of midfield.

Stoke have also re-signed keeper Mark Crossley on loan. The Boro custodian played for the Teesiders at Portman Road in the Worthington Cup earlier in the season when the Blues won 3-1. Tony Pulis will decide between Crossley and Steve Banks for Saturday's game.

Pulis was pleased with his side's win at Brighton in the week and hopes they can keep the good form going: “We went to Grimsby full of hope after a good result and lost, and went to Forest full of hope after a good performance against Chelsea and lost.

“The players have now got to react properly and positively to beating Brighton. We have only won once away all season and the players have got to realise they must play well away from home, not just at the Britannia if we are going to get out of trouble.

"Two clean sheets from our last three games is a pleasing aspect and something we must continue to build on. We have to keep things tight to succeed at places like Ipswich because our record shows we don't score enough goals.”

Town squad: Abidallah, Ambrose, D Bent, M Bent, Bowditch, Gaardsøe, Holland, Hreidarsson, Magilton, Makin, Marshall, Miller, Naylor, Pullen, Reuser, Richards, Wilnis and Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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