Midfielder Tommy Miller looks set to miss the live Sky game at Sunderland on Sunday (Sky Sports One, KO 1pm), although the Blues will leave it until as late as possible before completely ruling him out. Miller picked up an elbow injury in the 1-0 win over Leeds last Saturday.

Manager Joe Royle admits that Miller is very unlikely to play at the Stadium of Light: "It's not looking good for Tommy, although we know how desperate he is to play and we will give him all the time he wants.

"He was running yesterday but carrying his arm like a broken wing. He was obviously struggling and has to be extremely doubtful."

Striker Dean Bowditch looks favourite to take Miller's place with the Blues switching to 4-3-3. Darryl Knights, primarily a frontman, is included in the squad, perhaps an indication that a change of formation is Royle's plan.

Another option the Town manager has if Miller is absent is to add Matt Richards to his midfield.

Royle has been impressed with Knights, 16, in a number of reserve games and says the former Chantry High School pupil is currently in terrific form: "Darryl has been exceptional recently. He has been training with the first team and looked quite at home."

Another Academy youngster, Irish keeper Shane Supple, will also be on the bench, second choice stopper Lewis Price having gone on loan to Cambridge United this week. The Welsh U21 is expected to make his Cambridge debut against Rushden and Diamonds on Saturday.

Town could come up against former striker Marcus Stewart on Sunday, although the Bristolian is under fire from fans at present after failing to score in his last nine games.

Stewart himself says he wouldn't be surprised if boss Mick McCarthy were to drop him: "It was a bit of a shock when I found out I was starting against Leicester, I was preparing myself not to play.

"I'd not scored for eight games before that and now it's nine. There are players waiting for their chance and I could not put up much of an argument if I was dropped.

"I'm just getting on with it and I know there's a goal in me soon. Once that happens I'm confident of going on a run."

Stewart, who is expecting to be released by the Black Cats in the summer, says Town will come to Sunderland looking for three points, something not many other sides have tried to do this season: "They've won four in a row and are flying. We need to peg them back and I'd love to get a goal, but the main thing is three points.

"I'm expecting a different type of game to what we usually get at the Stadium of Light. Ipswich will come and attack us."

Sunderland keeper Thomas Myhre says his side are well and truly in the promotion running and expects Town to be up there alongside them at the end of the season: "We have been winning games and picking up points and that's what we have to do.

"Our aim is to finish in the top two and win promotion and I think Ipswich are one of the teams who will be challenging us at the end of the season.

"Any of the top six or eight clubs will fancy their chances but I think the real dangers will be Wigan, Ipswich and West Ham."

Sunderland have received good news on the injury front with Stephen Wright (thigh), George McCartney (hamstring) and Mark Lynch (ankle) all returning to training and available for Sunday.

They will be without Matt Piper, who is back in training but not yet ready to return to first team action. Carl Robinson is out for around four weeks after surgery on a nose injury earlier this week.

Skipper Gary Breen picked up a minor injury when with the Republic of Ireland but after rest is OK. Former Town target Mart Poom is still a few weeks away from a return after a knee injury.

Town have lost only two away games this season, while the Black Cats have been defeated in just one of their last 31 league matches at the Stadium of Light.

Sunday's referee is Paul Robinson from East Yorkshire who has shown 33 yellow cards and four red in 12 games this season. Robinson last took control of the Blues in the 4-1 victory over Watford at Portman Road in March.

Squad: Davis, Supple, Diallo, Wilnis, Richards, De Vos, Collins, Naylor, Magilton, Miller, Horlock, Westlake, Bent, Kuqi, Bowditch, Couñago, Knights.

Photo: Action Images

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