Striker Adam Proudlock is out of Town's first ever trip to Coventry's Ricoh Arena. The on-loan striker jarred a knee joint in Monday's reserve defeat to Spurs.

Town are confident that the former Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves man will be back for Tuesday's home game with Reading.

Despite the likes of Nicky Forster and Ian Westlake returning from injury in recent weeks, the Blues still have one or two players on the sidelines. Owen Garvan has a small chip to a bone and should be OK to return in a fortnight.

Midfielder Kevin Horlock is unavailable due to a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Plymouth.

New Norwegian signing Vemund Brekke Skard is also out of action at present, although the Town boss says his problem is not serious: "Vemund will need a minor operation for something which probably wouldn't stop him playing for a couple of weeks but might get worse if we don't do something about it. As we are still waiting for his clearance, it seems like a good opportunity. We anticipate him being unavailable for four or five weeks."

Royle says that Town are no nearer to gaining permission for Skard to play prior to January despite former club Brumunddal reporting last week that the Norwegian FA had reclassified him as an amateur and given him the go-ahead. Town will continue to work on securing his availability in case he is fit prior to the transfer window opening.

Striker Dean McDonald is joining up with Hartlepool, with whom he will spend a month, on Friday and is likely to make his debut in their League One game at Gillingham on Saturday.

Royle says he is still mulling over whether to give his own new loanee, West Ham's Gavin Williams, a start at Coventry: "I'm going to speak to him tomorrow when he gets back [from international duty with Wales] and see how he is after his travelling.

"He hasn't had a lot of games recently, which on the one hand could make him fresh, but could leave him a bit short of match practice. I'll know better when I have had a word with him."

Town's other Welshman, keeper Lewis Price, impressed his club manager on his international debut on Wednesday night: "I watched him and he did very, very well. I'm delighted for him as he's waited a while.

"It's a great chance for him, he's made a big claim and John Toshack was rightly eulogising over him afterwards. I thought Williams looked tidy when he came on as well."

Royle confirmed that the Blues have already started talks with Price regarding extending his stay at Portman Road. The 21-year-old's current contract is up at the end of the season.

Town are unlikely to be changed at the back, but Williams should make his debut on the right side of midfield. Matt Richards could keep his place on the left with Darren Currie dropping to the bench as he did for the recent trip to Derby.

Jimmy Juan is set to continue in the centre of midfield, while skipper Jim Magilton is likely to return alongside him in place of Kevin Horlock. Ian Westlake has only played two games after his injury and will be amongst the substitutes. Up front, Nicky Forster will continue to partner away goal specialist Sam Parkin.

The Sky Blues haven't had the easiest start to their first season in their new stadium but Royle says they have some quality players: "They're under the cosh a bit. They've just had a good draw with Cardiff but they lost heavily to Reading previously.

"They seem to be changing about a bit, the system and the constitution of the team. But I look at them and they've still got good players; Gary McSheffrey, Stephen Hughes is as good as anybody in midfield in this division, Dele Adebola's always been a threat and we know all about Scowy.

"We drew with them here not so long ago and felt we should have won - I'm sure that we should have won - and it's a chance to put that right."

Coventry boss Micky Adams will have little idea what side he will be fielding until four of his players return from international duty. Robert Page and Richard Duffy have been away with Wales, Clayton Ince with Trinidad and Tobago and Marton Fulop with Hungary.

Better news for Adams is that Marcus Hall and Richard Shaw have both had injections for Achilles problems and should be involved, while the fortnight's break between fixtures has helped Claus Jorgensen, Dele Adebola and Andy Impey get nearer to fitness.

Adams will assess who he has available on Friday morning and says that this is the price of having limited resources and international players: "That's the way it is at this club. We have got a small squad and when people are injured or away we struggle to get people on the training pitch.

"It is frustrating that these international breaks have disrupted us but we are making use of the time we have got. If I look at Ipswich's side for Saturday, I don't think they have got too many away at all, if any."

Saturday's referee is Graham Salisbury from Lancashire who has shown 38 yellow and four red cards in 14 games this season. Salisbury last took control of the Blues in their 3-2 victory over Plymouth in September last year.

Squad: Bowditch, Currie, De Vos, Forster, Juan, Magilton, McEveley, Naylor, Parkin, Price, Richards, Sito, Supple, Westlake, Williams, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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