Boss Joe Royle will wait until the weekend before picking his squad for Monday's live Sky game at Cardiff City (Sky Sports One, KO 7.45pm). Royle will assess the progress of a number of players with minor knocks before deciding on the party travelling to face the Bluebirds.

Jimmy Juan and Sito both have slight problems, the French loanee suffering a recurrence of a calf problem and limping out of training earlier today, while the Spaniard took a blow on an ankle in the Reading game. Royle is confident both will be OK for the trip to Ninian Park.

Lewis Price has a chipped bone in his finger which he picked up when away with Wales and is waiting to see a specialist. The problem is not thought serious enough to prevent the 21-year-old keeper from playing.

Midfielder Ian Westlake hurt a foot in the reserve game at Charlton on Wednesday but the injury isn't expected to be anything more than bruising.

Owen Garvan and Adam Proudlock are both running again after ankle and knee injuries respectively, and the loanee striker could be fit for inclusion at Cardiff. Garvan will be in the U18 side playing Leeds in the third round of the FA Youth Cup at Elland Road next Wednesday.

Proudlock is one of a number of players who could replace Sam Parkin in the senior side now the former Swindon man is out of action for three months with a broken ankle. Dean Bowditch is another in with a shout and did his cause no harm by scoring for the reserves at Charlton.

Academy frontman Billy Clarke also impressed the watching Joe Royle at the Valley and is considered very close to a first team call.

Royle has all but given up on bringing in a loan signing to replace Parkin, although as of Thursday morning he was still awaiting one phone call. However, with the Football League's emergency transfer deadline 5pm on Thursday afternoon, a new temporary signing looks unlikely.

New Norwegian Vemund Brekke Skard is on the sidelines after undergoing his groin operation on Wednesday and, as the situation currently stands, will in any case not be available to play until January.

Photo: Action Images

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