Town manager Joe Royle hopes to have central defender Drissa Diallo back in contention for a first team place before the end of January. The Guinean international has been out of action since picking up a knee injury in September which subsequently required surgery.

Diallo will start full training again next week and is hoping to play in a behind-closed-doors reserve game being arranged for January 7th.

Royle says that Diallo's return will be a big boost: "It will give us a massive lift. Drissa was our best player in the early weeks of the season and he is one of our best defenders.

"With John McGreal hopefully available after his bout of flu, we will be well served at the back."

The Town boss is expected to make changes to his side for the visit of Derby in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Midfielders Martijn Reuser and Tommy Miller will be hopeful of recalls while Dean Bowditch and Darren Bent will be looking to make starts.

Jermaine Wright is a doubt with the foot injury he sustained in the loss to Crystal Palace.

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