Jim Magilton has emerged as Joe Royle's main worry ahead of Saturday's home clash with Stoke City after suffering a shin and calf injury during the 6-1 demolition of Burnley. Better news for Town is that Georges Santos, recently suffering with a groin injury, is not a concern for the Potters' visit.

Magilton picked up his injury when Mo Camara tackled him two-footed on Tuesday, an incident where the Town skipper's protestations regarding the challenge led to his yellow card.

The Northern Irishman was almost substituted at half-time with the problem and has a bruised shin and a lot of swelling on his calf which forced him out of training on Thursday. Despite this Royle is hopeful that his captain will be fit for Saturday.

Georges Santos' tight groin has settled down after the Clarets' match and he is not considered a doubt for Saturday, having been 50-50 for the Blues' previous two games with the problem.

Jermaine Wright also has a tight groin but will be fit for the Stoke match while Darren Bent will be out for around two weeks with a small tear to his medial knee ligament. The England U21 picked up the injury in the Wimbledon game a few weeks ago and has been playing with it, but is now taking the opportunity to rest and let it clear completely.

Of the longer term injured Chris Makin is in training but is still a couple of weeks away from action after his groin injury. John McGreal is likely to be involved with the reserves next week, his back improving all the time.

Martijn Reuser is progressing well and he is expected to return to training next week after his absence with a groin problem. Drissa Diallo's knee is on the mend and he is likely to be back in training next week.

Youngster Aidan Collins (sprained ankle ligaments) will be missing for a few weeks still while academy striker Craig Reid appeared to badly injure his ankle in training on Thursday and will have a scan to see the extent of the damage.

The Blues' boss says that Jim Magilton would be a big loss if he doesn't make it: “We need Jim. While everyone has been talking about the three loanees. the likes of Jim, Jermaine, Bam-Bam, Georges, Fabian and young Matt Richards have all played their part as well. The loanees have been the catalyst for our mini-revival but we'd miss Jim.”

The prospect of signing the three loanees permanently is something the Town manager is keen to do, however he says he is yet to talk to Blackburn regarding the future of midfielder Alan Mahon: “I haven't spoken with Graeme Souness about him. I said to him at the time that it is initially a three-month deal and that we'd speak to them when we're in a position to be able to speak to them.

“At the moment we still have to keep our wage bill in trim as well as our outlay. He could be available on a free I'm led to believe, although Blackburn haven't told us that.”

Royle says his side aren't getting over confident after recent results: “While we're pleased at the way things have gone, all we've done up to now is retrieve a retched start to the season.

“If you'd asked me before the season if we'd be in this position now, I'd have said we would have been higher in the table. We're still playing catch-up.

“While getting six goals is nice for the fans - and I'm glad we're scoring goals again - Stoke are going to be hard. They were unfortunate at Wigan the other night and this will be no easy game.

“I know Tony Pulis well and the way he sets his teams out, and they will be hard to break down. Six would be nice but if it was one it would be just as nice.”

Royle can't remember any of his sides scoring five goals in a first half before, although he suspects that as a player the Everton team which beat Southampton 8-0 at Goodison Park in 1971 may have done so, a game in which the Town manager scored four times.

The Blues' main striking threat lately has been Pablo Couñago whose displays have improved after a slow start to the season: “It's confidence. If you'd seen him finishing this morning he was finding the corner of the net again. The goal looks twice the size to him while two weeks ago it was a five-a-side net.

“And the big fella's helped him. Shefki's taken a lot of weight off him, and he's getting better service from midfield. All-round we're looking a better stronger side.

“We've played well. We are improving, but there's more to come, a lot more to come.”

Stoke have defender Marcus Hall out suspended and former Tranmere man Clint Hill will take his place. Ex-Coventry midfielder John Eustace is also suspended.

Wayne Thomas is a doubt after missing the Wigan game while Keith Andrews, a loanee from Wolves, returns to the side.

Saturday's game is live on Sky and kicks-off at 5.35pm.

Photo: Action Images

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