Midfielder Sylvain Legwinski is out of Saturday's home game with Scunthorpe United after injuring ankle ligaments in training. Better news for Jim Magilton is that Alex Bruce is back in training after his groin injury.

Bruce has missed the last two games with Fabian Wilnis taking his place alongside Jason De Vos and Magilton says he may give the Irish international an immediate recall: “We will have a look at both in training and then decide. Three games in seven days may be a bit much for Fabian, so we will have a look at that.”

Spanish full-back Sito had a relatively quiet game against Leicester on Tuesday but has done little wrong since his return to the side at half-time against Charlton a week ago. The former Racing Club de Ferrol man is likely to keep his place at left-back with Dan Harding again remaining on the sidelines.

Harding was singled out for criticism by manager Magilton after the defeat at the Valley as he vowed to make changes to his squad in January. However, the Town boss now says he was speaking in the heat of the moment: "We all make comments and we were all disappointed.

"This group of lads have done fantastically well for me. Everyone expects there to be wholesale changes with the takeover happening, but when has a pacemaker won a marathon?

"We are seventh in the league and have to sustain it over 46 games and have said all along that when a quality player is available we will try to get him into the club.

"The lads here have stepped up and put us into this position and deserve praise."

David Wright will continue in the other full-back role, while Richard Naylor has returned to light training after his recent back problem.

Tommy Miller and Shane Supple are over the effects of the illness which has hit the squad over the last week and saw them drop out of the squad for the Leicester game. Magilton says the duo will be assessed today: “Tommy had a little jog and we will see how he is today. Shane is still feeling a little queasy but I expect him to train today. We still have one or two suffering but we seem to over the worst of it.”

Miller could return to the midfield if he is considered well enough, probably alongside Owen Garvan in the centre, with Gavin Williams perhaps rested. The Welshman only recently returned to the first team after his ankle injury and has also been suffering with a sore toe of late.

French veteran Legwinski appears to have sprained ligaments and will undergo an MRI scan next week once the swelling has reduced to ascertain the extent of the damage.

Danny Haynes may have done enough against Leicester to keep his place on the right of midfield with Jon Walters remaining on the left. Up front, the Alan Lee-Pablo Couñago partnership picks itself, with Billy Clarke and perhaps Jordan Rhodes waiting in the wings for their chance from the bench.

Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins hopes his side can end Town's 14-game home unbeaten run: "It's a massive game for us. They are undefeated at home and have only drawn once. So the law of averages suggests we should go and turn them over.

"It will be tough we know that, we are under no illusions, but we will go with the freedom to play because nobody expects us to get anything from Ipswich Town. It's a game we can really look forward to.

"We are undefeated in the last two matches. Yes, we would like to have won the last two games and are disappointed not to have done, but I think we are playing some really good football and are creating a lot of opportunities.

"We've not had the luck in recent weeks, but on another day the ball will go inside the post instead of outside and the referee will give a decision our way instead of their way."

Scunthorpe, who away from home this season have won two, drawn four and lost four, will be without midfielder Matt Sparrow and defender Kelly Youga due to suspension, while defender Cliff Byrne is out with a broken leg.

Defender Izzy Iriekpen is recovering from a groin problem, but the Town game is likely to come too soon for the former Walsall man. Midfielder Cleveland Taylor is out with a hamstring problem.

Town last met Scunthorpe in the League Cup in 1986/87 when the Blues ran out 2-1 winners at the Iron's former home the Old Showground, with the goals coming from Jason Dozzell and John Deehan. Town won the home leg 2-0 with Mark Brennan and Kevin Wilson on the scoresheet.

Scunthorpe have only ever beaten the Blues once, a 4-0 home win in Town's 1960/61 old Second Division championship-winning season. The Blues have won five games between the two sides (three in the league and all four at home) and drawn twice (both in the league).

Saturday's referee is Jarnail Singh from Middlesex, who has shown 44 yellow and two red cards in 14 games so far this season. Singh has not previously refereed a Town game.

Likely squad: Alexander, Supple, Sito, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Wilnis, Garvan, Williams, Miller, Trotter, Walters, Haynes, Peters, Lee, Couñago, Clarke, Rhodes.

Photo: Action Images

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