Town boss Joe Royle says it is highly unlikely that loan star Alan Mahon will be involved against Sheffield United on Saturday. Mahon needs to get a reserve game under his belt prior to a senior return but misses out against Portsmouth this evening due to flu.

Royle says that the Blackburn man is now not in contention for a start against the Blades: "The very best he could hope for is to be on the bench at the weekend, but that's unlikely. He really needs to get a game in first.

"He would have been in contention — there's no doubt about that — but we would need to fall down in a considerable number of other places for him to be on duty on Saturday."

However, Mahon's extra absence will not mean he is available to Joe Royle for fewer games. The Irishman's 93-day loan has been suspended until he is able to return to action.

Meanwhile defender John McGreal has been cleared to play in the reserves against Portsmouth. The former Tranmere man had been a doubt after sustaining a cut to his leg in training.

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