Championship Manager of the Month Joe Royle has no injury worries ahead of Saturday's trip to Crewe Alexandra. The Blues are likely to line-up as they started last week's 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Town's 11 practically picks itself at the moment with the squad small and injuries not a problem, Tommy Miller and Dean Bowditch both OK after recent elbow and ankle knocks respectively.

Royle continues to look for loan players but says there will be nothing happening on that front in the short-term: "We have 14 fit first teamers, so there is no emergency.

"The situation hasn't changed in as much that we will look to bring in a loan player when the need arises."

Royle is pleased to win the Manager of the Month award for November and says it is a tribute to all at the club: "It is great news for the club and the team - it shows that people are recognising what we are doing here at Ipswich.

"There were four managers with similar records in the running for the award and I would like to think that the way we play tipped the scales in our favour."

Young central defender Aidan Collins comes back into the squad having impressed in the reserve game against Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Last season the Blues lost 1-0 to the Railwaymen during the tricky start to the campaign which saw them drop to bottom of the table by mid-September.

Circumstances are very different now with Town top of the league, while Crewe are only six points off the play-off places, although they are in still down in 15th position.

The Alex are in a rich vein of form having won three of their last four games. Town assistant manager Willie Donachie was one of 38 scouts who watched Tuesday's victory over Millwall.

Striker Dean Ashton was the main attraction and Town boss Royle revealed an interest in the England U21 international: "Had the directors decided to accept the offer for Benty, the player I would have wanted to replace him was Ashton. He was at the top of my list and I don't mind admitting it."

The Town board turned down the £3 million bid from Charlton for Darren Bent in August and the Blues are confident that they will be able to hold off anything but a colossal offer during the January transfer window.

Ashton, who starred with Bent for the England U19s in the 3-1 win against Germany at Portman Road in 2002, has scored 15 goals this season and is currently the top marksman in the Championship. His Gresty Road exit is expected in January, with Spurs the current favourites for his signature.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi has injury concerns regarding Jon Otsemobor, Anthony Tonkin and David Vaughan.

Loanee from Liverpool Otsemobor, also a former England U19 colleague of Bent, has a slight knock from Tuesday's game with Millwall, while Tonkin (foot) and Vaughan (calf) missed the victory over Dennis Wise's side.

One man out to make an impression will be Mark Rivers, a trialist at Town during the summer. The former Canary failed to do enough to win a deal and subsequently rejoined hometown club Crewe.

Saturday's referee is Kevin Friend from Leicestershire. So far this season he has shown 44 yellow and four red cards in 15 games. In his second season as a league referee, Friend is yet to take control of a Town game but officiated in Crewe's 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield United last season.

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

Photo: Action Images

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