Striker Shefki Kuqi will have a fitness test ahead of Saturday's trip to Wigan. The Finnish international looked to have little chance of making the top-of-the-table Championship clash due to the gash on his thigh, but is back in training and will be assessed on Friday.

Kuqi is named in the 16-man squad flying to the North-West and looks likely to play some role at the JJB Stadium, whether from the start or from the bench.

Town's top scorer returned to training today having missed out for three weeks after sustaining the injury in a clash with Dion Dublin in the 2-1 win over Leicester.

Manager Joe Royle says the Finn might not yet be quite ready to start a game: "Shefki has trained for the first time in three weeks and did OK, but he's very rusty.

"There is no problem with his general fitness, he's a naturally fit lad anyway, but he has not seen a ball for three weeks and we'll have another look at him on Friday.

"The specialist is very happy with his progress and he is way ahead of schedule after initially being told he could be out for six to eight weeks. But he's had no football inside him for a while and we have to think about that.

"He will train again tomorrow and we will give him another fitness test and then make a decision from there.

"He's in the squad for now but if things change on Friday, we will add someone else to the squad if he doesn't make it."

The Blues are without James Scowcroft and Wigan old boy Jason De Vos, the pair having reached five bookings prior to the end of February cut-off point. Players will now only face suspensions if they reach 10 or 15 yellow cards. Both players will be available for the home game against Nottingham Forest next week.

Scowcroft will be replaced at Wigan by Kuqi if he's fit enough, while Pablo Couñago could receive a recall if the Finn isn't considered ready to resume his strike partnership with Darren Bent.

De Vos will probably be replaced at central defence by David Unsworth, the loanee switching from left-back. That role will be taken by either Matt Richards or Danny Karbassiyoon.

In addition to his suspension, Scowcroft has also picked up a groin injury and limped out of training on Thursday. However, it is not considered a serious problem.

Central defender Drissa Diallo and French loanee Jimmy Juan are still not ready for inclusion in the first team squad after hamstring and foot injuries respectively, but both are expected to be included in the reserve game at Southampton on Wednesday.

Royle has already confirmed that Ian Westlake will return to the starting line-up, probably at the centre of midfield in place of Kevin Horlock. The Town boss did not consider dropping keeper Kelvin Davis despite the former England U21 international's errors against QPR last week.

The Wigan line-up facing Town is anyone's guess at this stage, the Latics without six of their players due to flu. Strikers Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington are reported to be amongst the casualties, along with midfielders Jimmy Bullard, Gary Teale and former Town loan star Alan Mahon. The Irishman also has a knee problem which almost certainly will keep him out of Saturday's game even if he recovers from the illness.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell admits the situation is far from perfect: "Let's be honest it's not an ideal situation but it's something that we will have to cope with.

"We have six players absent this morning, which is a real worry, but we're hoping they will be all right for Saturday.

"As I said it's not ideal, but then Ipswich are missing Jason De Vos and James Scowcroft, which isn't ideal for them either."

Brazilian central defender Emerson Thome remains Wigan's only long-term absentee with injury.

Saturday's referee is Graham Laws from Tyne and Wear who has shown 84 yellow cards and two red in 28 games this season. Earlier in the season Laws took control of Town's 2-0 win at Rotherham United.

Squad: Bent, Bowditch, Couñago, Currie, Davis, Horlock, Karbassiyoon, Kuqi, Magilton, Miller, Naylor, Price, Richards, Unsworth, Westlake and Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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