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Santos and Wilnis Back
Santos and Wilnis Back
Friday, 12th Dec 2003 14:33

Town welcome Georges Santos and Fabian Wilnis back to the back four for the trip to Millwall after the pair missed out last week through suspension and a hamstring injury respectively. However, Richard Naylor is on the sidelines due to a hamstring/knee problem.

Joe Royle will name a back four of Wilnis, Santos, John McGreal and Matt Richards but is likely to make a switch in midfield with Jermaine Wright probably moving forward after replacing Wilnis at right-back last week.

Tommy Miller took over from Wright in midfield last week, but is a doubt ahead of the visit to the New Den with the ankle injury which forced him to return early from the Scotland Future squad.

Royle was impressed with Miller, however, and if fit he will be in his manager's thoughts: “Tommy did very well last week. I know in my mind what the team will be, but I'm just waiting to see how Tom is to be sure.”

With the likes of Alan Mahon and Pablo Couñago back to fitness the Town boss now has choices he could only have dreamed of a few weeks ago.

Royle says Richard Naylor's injury is not too serious: “He's been having knee problems for a few weeks now. He's been sore, but not sore enough to stop him playing.

“The hamstring is related, it's a spasm rather than a tear, but the rest will do him good and allow it to settle down, and I'll be surprised if he's out for more than a week.


“We think it's a knee problem which the hamstring is a symptom of. He picked up a heavy blow a couple of weeks ago and the spasm is a result of carrying the knee injury.”

Drissa Diallo and Chris Makin remain the long-term absentees with the Guinean international set to return around Christmas. Makin's hip/thigh injury could require an operation and he be out for several months to come.

The likes of Alan Mahon and Martijn Reuser are still short of match practice and the Blues have organised a behind-closed-doors friendly with Peterborough for next week due to a lack of league reserve matches.

The Town boss is delighted to have made the signing of Chris-Bart-Williams permanent yesterday: “I'm delighted. He's been terrific since the day he came here. He's bright and bubbly and he's been an asset to us. Everybody else has dovetailed with him in the midfield and from his second game onwards we haven't really done too much wrong.

“He's signed a contract which will keep him here until the summer and then we'll review the situation.”

Royle says Dennis Wise's Millwall managerial career has begun with promise: “He's had a good start. He never lacked passion, and I'm told his team's got passion.

“Ray Wilkins is also there, who is a good friend, and who may be a calming influence. They're a good side Millwall, with some decent players.”

The Lions have an extensive injury list: Belgian attacker Bob Peeters has a calf injury, Paul Ifill a hernia problem, Neil Harris an ankle knock, Noel Whelan a pulled hamstring and Robbie Ryan a groin injury.

Kevin Muscat plays his last game prior to his suspension for a red card against Norwich last week.

Dennis Wise has called up youngsters Mark Quigley, a striker, and defender Tim Clancy as cover for his missing first teamers.

The former Chelsea skipper and assistant Ray Wilkins are looking for a continuation of recent good home form: "Since we've been in charge we've had four clean sheets at The Den.

“The mentality when we play at home has been great. We play in a positive way and create chances, so I'm just looking for that to continue.

“In the last couple of games we've come up against keepers who have been in top form and we just need a little bit of luck in front of goal.”

Saturday's referee is Iain Williamson from Berkshire who has not previously officiated a Town game. So far this season he has shown 51 yellow cards and one red in 16 games.

Squad: Bart-Williams, Bent, Bowditch, Couñago, Davis, Kuqi, Magilton, Mahon, McGreal, Miller, Price, Reuser, Richards, Santos, Westlake, Wilnis and Wright.


Photo: Action Images



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