Striker Sam Parkin could return to the Town line-up travelling to Millwall on Saturday. The former Swindon man is due to have the stitches in a head wound removed today and the Blues are hopeful he could be back in contention at the Den.

Parkin, 24, suffered the injury in training last Friday when he ducked into the foot of a Dutch trialist. Boss Joe Royle felt the blades on the unnamed Dutchman's boot were a major factor in causing the injury which required 20 stitches in a zigzag from Parkin's forehead down to his nose.

Royle said: "Our medical people will look at Sam today and decide whether the stitches can come out. If not, they will look again on Friday or even Saturday.

"He could play with a pad and a bandanna, but we will be guided by the medical people."

If Parkin does make his comeback, Royle will have to decide whether he plays alongside Dean McDonald or Dean Bowditch. McDonald was the more impressive of the two Deans against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend but both were quiet against Yeovil on Tuesday.

Nicky Forster is unavailable after having a cartilage operation last week and won't be back in contention for another month.

The Blues are also without Jason De Vos whose rib injury will also keep him out of the Preston match on Monday. Richard Naylor is likely to be partnered at the centre of the defence by Fabian Wilnis, although the former Millwall loanee may be called upon to play up front if Parkin doesn't make it, with Aidan Collins taking over at the back.

Jim Magilton, who has had a cortisone injection on an arthritic toe injury he has been suffering with for three months, will return to the centre of midfield alongside Kevin Horlock, with Darren Currie on the right and Ian Westlake on the left.

Lewis Price will continue in goal after returning against Yeovil, Shane Supple moving back to the bench after making his first senior appearances against Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday. Matt Richards and Sito will be on the left and right of the defence respectively.

Millwall have signed former Stoke City striker Carl Asaba on a one-year deal and took Wolves keeper Paul Jones on loan as cover for ex-Town keeper Andy Marshall earlier in the week. Marshall, red-carded at Reading last week, is available to face his old club and manager Colin Lee has yet to decide which stopper to use against the Blues.

Town winger Jaime Peters will meet up with Canadian international team-mates Adrian Serioux and Josh Simpson, whose presence at the Den almost persuaded the 18-year-old to join Millwall ahead of the Blues last season. All three are in Frank Yallop's squad for the friendly in Spain on September 3rd.

Millwall will be missing defender Matt Lawrence who injured knee ligaments in last Saturday's 5-0 thrashing at Reading.

Town have never won at Millwall's current ground and last defeated the Lions in South London back in the 1991/92 season when John Lyall's side ran out 3-2 victors on their way to the old Division Two title.

Saturday's referee is elite group official Mark Halsey who has shown seven yellow cards and one red in his four games this season. Halsey last refereed the Blues when Southampton came to Portman Road and won 3-1 in March 2002, although he is best remembered for failing to award Town an obvious penalty for a foul on David Johnson in the 1999 play-off semi-final away at Bolton.

Squad: Price, Supple, Sito, Richards, Naylor, Wilnis, Collins, Magilton, Horlock, Westlake, Currie, Peters, Garvan, Juan, Parkin, McDonald, Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

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