Town have Jon Walters, Grant Leadbitter and Stern John back for Monday’s visit by QPR (KO 3pm). Striker Jon Stead is available for selection ahead of his appeal against his sending off at Crystal Palace.

Walters and Leadbitter, who were suspended on Boxing Day, look set to return to the midfield, while John, unavailable against his parent club on Saturday, is likely to come into the attack for his final game before his loan spell from Palace ends with Stead partnering him.

Skipper Walters will probably come back into the midfield on the right with Carlos Edwards unimpressive at Selhurst Park.

Leadbitter is likely to return to the centre of midfield with either Jack Colback or Jaime Peters making way. Dropping either would be harsh after their impressive performances at Palace, so one may move to the left for Owen Garvan. Colin Healy might also feel hard done by if left out having done well on his return to the side, while David Norris is likely to be involved as a sub.

Arran Lee-Barrett looked nervous at Palace but with no other senior keeper available until Brian Murphy formalises his move from Bohemians when the transfer window opens, the former Hartlepool man will continue in goal. The back four of David Wright, Damien Delaney, Gareth McAuley and Liam Rosenior is unlikely to be changed despite conceding three goals at Palace.

Richard Wright and Luciano Civelli remain on the sidelines with their long-term knee injuries. Civelli could be back by the end of January, while Wright is expected to be out until March.

QPR, who split with former Town boss Jim Magilton “by mutual consent” earlier in the month, will have defender Damion Stewart back from a ban, while Lee Cook, Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon all have knee injuries and will miss out. Former caretaker-manager Gareth Ainsworth has a calf problem.

Central defender Matt Connolly returned as a late sub in Saturday’s 2-1 home win against Bristol City after a hip injury and could be in contention for a start at Portman Road.

The Rs, now managed by former Portsmouth boss Paul Hart, are currently eighth in the Championship with an away record of won four, drawn three and lost four. Their most recent away win was at Sheffield Wednesday on November 7th. They are without a win in their last seven games against the Blues.

Other than Damien Delaney, who joined the Blues from QPR in the summer, Kevin Lisbie is the only other player currently employed by either club to have been played for the other. The striker, who is set to return from his loan spell with Colchester in January, made one start and one sub appearance during a loan spell at Loftus Road back in 2000/01, failing to score.

Town have won 26 of the previous encounters between the sides (24 in the league), Rangers 21 (19) and 18 (17) have ended in draws.

Last season, the Blues did the double over the West Londoners, the Portman Road match ending 2-0 win Jon Stead netting both goals and the Loftus Road game finishing 3-1 to Town with Stead, Pablo Couñago and Jon Walters hitting back after Samuel Di Carmine had put the home side ahead early on.

Monday’s referee is Steve Tanner from Somerset, who has shown 40 yellow and two red cards in 13 games so far this season. Tanner was recently demoted from the Select Group of referees who take control of Premier League matches to the National Group who exclusively work in the Football League.

Tanner’s most recent Town match was the 2-0 defeat at West Brom in August in which he failed to issue a single card of either colour.

Squad from: Lee-Barrett, McLoughlin, D Wright, Rosenior, Delaney, McAuley, Bruce, Smith, Leadbitter, Colback, Peters, Healy, Quinn, Walters, Edwards, Martin, Stead, John, Priskin, Couñago, Wickham.

Photo: Action Images

Back_The_Boss added 13:07 - Dec 27 Thats good news, they were badly missed against Palace, Q.P.R is a game that we have got to win. COYB!
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bigfish added 15:46 - Dec 27 Lets get back to winning ways - come on lads !!!! Lets have a happier new year we deserve it.
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StockholmDave added 16:30 - Dec 27 Harsh to drop Garvan, Peters or Colback My team would be Walters John Garvan Leadbitter Colback Peters Wright Delaney McAuley Rosenior Lee-Barrett
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DrJeckyll added 17:53 - Dec 27 hope we get an early goal cos worried the tension will start boiling over with the crowd desperate for the win after yesterday's defeat. Another 'must win' game
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bob123 added 18:06 - Dec 27 Stead John Colback Leadbitter Peters Walters Wright Delaney McAuley Rosenior Lee-Barrett
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Happy2bBlue added 19:26 - Dec 27 I like your team, Stockholm Dave but would have Walters and Stead up front with John on the bench. It's a real tough one tomorrow but should be a good game, I'd be happy with a draw unless we get the rub of the green for a nice change.
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emergencylime added 19:31 - Dec 27 I'd love a game like the 3-1 at their place last time, definitely one of the games of the season, Counago's run on goal then his strike was sublime. Stead Counago Garvan Leadbitter Colback Walters (Defence and GK pick themselves!...)
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MarkITFC added 21:04 - Dec 27 Lee Barrett Wright Delanley McAurley Roseinor Edwards Gravan Leadbitter Walters Stead Conuago bring John on after 60 minutes
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:32 - Dec 27 good news, we are going to need to get wins now or we are going to be in the mire!Results have not been good [draws] but team have been showing they have the quality to fight their way out of trouble !Fortunately teams around us have been bogged down too .COYB
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biffo added 07:34 - Dec 28 another loss coming what will be your excuse this tlme roy?
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raycrawfordswig added 08:40 - Dec 28 Can't believe the amount of NAARWICH fans on here BAA-HUMBUG
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:49 - Dec 28 just saying we,ll lose .point blank is really negative ! i think it will be a hard game which we need to win ,things HAVE to improve dramatically NOW though.
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biffo added 10:42 - Dec 28 i would love 2 b tn the position 2 say we,ll win . but r record under keane speaks 4 its self...as long as u people deny reality and keep backing him he wont get the boot and we go down to div 3 in the old language/////
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TruBlu added 10:47 - Dec 28 Uefa, biffo (same person) - why don't you stick to your native Pink'Un and stop fouling this board?
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biffo added 10:55 - Dec 28 i can assure u i am only me dont know about the other bloke though.. y dont u people wake up and see whats happening....... in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king
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biffo added 11:01 - Dec 28 i can assure u i am only me dont know about the other bloke though.. y dont u people wake up and see whats happening....... in the land of the blind the one eyed man is king
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biffo added 11:01 - Dec 28 i would love 2 b tn the position 2 say we,ll win . but r record under keane speaks 4 its self...as long as u people deny reality and keep backing him he wont get the boot and we go down to div 3 in the old language/////
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pottyblue added 11:25 - Dec 28 is stead not banned
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DrJeckyll added 13:08 - Dec 28 stead's ban not in force yet due to the ongoing appeal against his red card
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:39 - Dec 28 BIFFO, i dont have much faith in Keane, I DIDNT think he would still be here now,but i still hope we can win matches, its been a crap season so far, and we are in trouble,thats a fact ,but you have to hope .
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AJblue added 16:48 - Dec 28 face it biffo,you are are div who doesnt know what he is talking about
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:43 - Dec 28 biffo , see my point ! statements like that can make you look bloody stupid.No thought or reasoning for your prediction seems like some want the team to lose just to be rid of Keane .I have said many times i dont think RK is our man, but if he proves me wrong id be happy, so i put team and results first .
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