Town will again be without skipper Gareth McAuley for Sunday s final game of the season at home to Coventry, Roy Keane s first home match in charge of the Blues (KO 1.15pm). The Northern Irishman is over his hamstring problem but picked up a knee injury in training.
Boss Paul Jewell says the players currently out of his first team are showing the right attitude as they look to win a place in the starting XI. Defenders Tommy Smith and Darren O’Dea, midfielders Luciano Civelli and Jaime Peters and striker Tamás Priskin are currently amongst those regularly amongst the substitutes and not starting.
Second half goals from Clint Hill and Heidar Helguson consigned Town to the second league defeat of Paul Jewell’s reign against table-topping QPR at Loftus Road. The Blues had been the better side in the first half but after the break Neil Warnock’s side upped a gear and struck twice in the last quarter of an hour.
New signing Luciano Civelli has thanked the Town support for the reception he received when he made his debut at Portman Road on Saturday. Meanwhile, Argentinian sources have revealed the terms on which the Blues can buy out Banfield s 50% sell-on.
Loanee defender Darren O’Dea has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly against Norway in Dublin on Wednesday. The Celtic man was named in the preliminary squad but Town were in talks with the FAI regarding his inclusion in the final party.