Town manager Joe Royle will include Martijn Reuser and John McGreal in his squad facing Sheffield United on Saturday, although both players are still only fit enough for places on the bench. Loanee midfielder Alan Mahon will continue to remain on the sidelines after picking up a viral infection.

The Irishman is now over his hamstring injury but the virus means he will not be back in training until Monday. The Blackburn player's loan will restart next week and he is likely to be in the reserves side against Chelsea next Wednesday, ahead of the first team trip to Cardiff City next weekend.

Long-term injury concern Chris Makin saw a specialist last week who diagnosed his problem as a nerve impingement. Town had previously thought the problem was related to his hip joint.

The full-back has had an injection and has been training for the last couple of days and is feeling much better. Makin is still expected to be some way from a return to senior action.

Central defender Drissa Diallo had his exploratory knee operation last week and is recovering very well. He's four or five weeks away from a return.

Striker Pablo Couñago has returned after a short stay back home in Spain and has started his rehabilitation work. He is likely to be fit in around ten days to a fortnight and may well be OK for inclusion at Cardiff.

Alun Armstrong took a knock to the back in the reserves on Tuesday and didn't train on Thursday. He will be back in training either on Friday or Monday and is in with a chance of being in the squad on Saturday.

Martijn Reuser and John McGreal both came through the reserves 0-0 draw against Portsmouth in the week and will be on the subs' bench.

Town also have Richard Naylor and Chris Bart-Williams back after suspensions that caused them to miss the 2-2 draw at Derby.

Boss Joe Royle is pleased to have a few players to choose from as the injury list shortens: “We haven't had that all season. We got down to the stage where we had four academy boys on the bench earlier in the season. It'll be nice to see some experience there.

“That's not to say the academy boys are out of it, they were there on merit. Anyone who saw the reserves the other night will have seen how well the likes of Scott Mitchell and Scott Barron at left-back are doing, as well as Dean Bowditch.

“Bowditch has had a bit of a lull but in the last couple of weeks he's shown signs of coming on. I thought he did very well at Derby and I only took him off to get a bit more size on near the end of the game when we had to defend a few corners. I was delighted with his contribution.”

Royle says he expects a decent match on Saturday: “Looking at the games we had with them last year they certainly weren't short of goals.

“They are doing very well again and won at West Brom recently. They're a good side in this division, they are a good mixture and they are a passing team, which will suit us. It should be a good open game.”

The Blues' boss doesn't see any need to panic despite no wins in the last three games: “You can talk about us having lost one and drawn two of the last three games, but equally you can say we've lost two in 13 or whatever it is. There's not too much wrong with us at the moment.

“All three recent games we could have won. We've just got to pick it up again and make sure the gap doesn't get any bigger. We need to win this game.”

Town's backline has faced criticism in recent weeks and Royle says that his side could be less gung-ho on occasions: “It's not just the defence. We do lean heavily towards attacking which is why we score so many goals.

“At times I've said we ‘trade goals', although we don't deliberately do so, and when we take our chances we'll go away from sides like we did against Burnley.

“We could perhaps be, not more negative as such, but a little bit more cautious at times. That's what we said at Derby County, and we were for 44 minutes!

“We've got to find a fine balance but the overall run has been good and we're going for goals again.”

Royle doesn't feel that speculation regarding Blades' boss Neil Warnock moving to Leeds will make any difference to the South Yorkshire side: “It won't bother the players. I don't think it will affect them, they haven't been going badly in the league, have they?”

Warnock has a worry over midfielder Michael Brown who has a foot injury while defender Chris Armstrong is expected to be fit. Welsh international Robert Page played in their reserves on Wednesday after an ankle injury.

Saturday's referee is Mick Fletcher from Warley who has shown 83 yellow cards and five red this season in 18 games. He previously officiated Town in the 1-0 win away at Wimbledon last October.

Town squad, 16 from: Davis, Price, Wilnis, Richards, Naylor, Santos, McGreal, Magilton, Bart-Williams, Wright, Miller, Westlake, Reuser, Kuqi, Bent, Bowditch, Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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