Midfielder Ian Westlake is still a big doubt ahead of Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Sunderland at Portman Road (KO midday). Westlake picked up a knee injury during Monday's 2-0 defeat at Wolves.

Boss Joe Royle told the club site that he's not ruling out the Clacton-based player quite yet: "He'll hopefully train on Saturday but he certainly won't train before that.

"He is improving, but if the game was today or tomorrow he wouldn't be playing. However, we're keeping our fingers crossed and we'll just have to see what happens.

"With the game being on Sunday, the extra day will give him a chance. He's flying about in the way that Westy always does and he is desperate to play.

"He is making progress, so you never know, but at this stage he shouldn't be ruled out."

Meanwhile, at Sunderland the Black Cats' keeper injury crisis has deepened with Michael Ingham joining Mart Poom and Thomas Myhre on the sidelines with injury.

Poom is continuing his recovery from knee surgery, while Myhre has a side strain which forced him off in the 2-1 loss to Reading last Saturday. The Norwegian has not yet been completely ruled out of Sunday's game.

Ingham, who made his Sunderland league debut as a sub against Reading last weekend, ricked his neck when the club coach braked suddenly while he was asleep on the way back from a reserve game at Bolton earlier in the week and missed training today.

The Black Cats' fourth keeper is youngster Ben Alnwick. The England U18 international is yet to play a first team game and may not be mentally fit to play at the weekend after the death of a close friend, whose funeral he attended today.

Boss Mick McCarthy is considering asking the Football Legue to give him special dispensation to bring in another keeper after deadline day.

Ironically, Myhre, then an Everton player, was allowed to join Birmingham on loan in similar circumstances towards the end of the 1999/00 season.

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