Lee set for Debut

[Riviera]

New striker Alan Lee will make his Town debut on Saturday when the Blues take on Sheffield United at Portman Road. Despite the acquisition of the former Cardiff player for £100,000 earlier this week, the Blues remain short of fit strikers.

The Ireland international looks likely to partner Danny Haynes up front, although Joe Royle admits that the club are still unsure whether the former Charlton trainee's best position is as a striker or wide on the right.

Haynes, who was actually a right-back in his time with the Addicks, will compete with Dean Bowditch, back in training after his hip injury, and Dean McDonald for the role alongside Lee.

Town's other recent signing, Gavin Williams, will continue in midfield where Jim Magilton is a doubt with a back injury and Owen Garvan has a dead leg. However, the Blues are well covered in this area with Darren Currie, Jimmy Juan, Ian Westlake and Matt Richards also competing for a starting role, with Jaime Peters is waiting in the wings.

Kevin Horlock looks unlikely to be involved against the Blades with Oldham and other clubs interested in signing him, either on loan or on a permanent contract. The former Northern Ireland international has been told he can leave at the end of the season and is available for a move during the transfer window.

Recent Norwegian signing Vemund Brekke Skard is back in training after undergoing a groin operation before Christmas but needs to get reserve matches under his belt before he can be considered for first team inclusion. Town's second string game against Fulham at Needham Market on Monday may be in doubt and the Blues could be forced to arrange friendlies in order to help the former Brummundal player and others reach full fitness.

Up front, Nicky Forster and Adam Proudlock are set to see specialists due to their persistent knee problems and the former Reading man could face more surgery. Better news is that Sam Parkin will be back running next week and could be back in action in around a month.

Irish U19 international striker Billy Clarke isn't far away from resuming training after dislocating his elbow, while Darryl Knights is involved again after an ankle problem.

At the back, Sito may return to the starting line-up after coming off the bench against Portsmouth in the FA Cup last week, while Scott Barron is likely to keep his place at left-back after two impressive displays with Fabian Wilnis dropping to the bench.

Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos will continue at the heart of the defence but could face competition in weeks to come with Joe Royle looking for a young centre-half to push them for their places.

The Town boss laughed off links with Chelsea's Robert Huth and says he is taking his time before making the third transfer window addition to his squad: "There is no rush in terms of bringing in another loan player. I have identified the sort we want, a defender, and we have drawn up a contingency list, but there may be some players going out before we do anything about brining someone in."

This is unlikely to be a signal of high profile departures to come, more the exit of the likes of Horlock freeing up part of the wage budget.

In goal, Shane Supple is likely to get the nod ahead of Lewis Price, as he did against Portsmouth last week. The Wales international lost his place while he was out with a groin injury over Christmas with the Irishman impressing in his absence.

Games with Sheffield United have traditionally had a bit of spice about them since the days of the Taricco Wars in the mid-nineties and some of the best matches of the Royle era have come against the Blades, something the Town manager recognises: "I have great hopes our fans will rise to the occasion against Sheffield United. They've seen us come back from 2-0 down with 10 men to win 3-2 and last season we turned in one of our best displays to beat them 5-1 in this game.

"They don't particularly like coming here and let's hope that continues to be
the case. They will see us as a wolf in sheep's clothing; they know where we
are in the league but they will have had us watched lately - I know they
were at the game against Portsmouth - and they will know we are better than
our results indicate.

"We have improved lately in terms of performances but we need wins now if we are going to climb the table."

Royle expects the Blades to win promotion and is envious of the spending power which allowed them to sign former Town loanee David Unsworth from Portsmouth ahead of the Blues in the summer. The one-time England international has quickly established himself as a fans' favourite at Bramall Lane.

The Blades have added Blackburn midfielder Garry Flitcroft and Chinese defender Zhang Yaokun to their squad this month and have also targeted Wolves striker Kenny Miller and Cardiff's Cameron Jerome.

Veteran central defender Craig Short has a calf problem while Paul Ifill and Michael Tonge are back after injuries.

Saturday's referee is Steve Bennett from Kent who has shown 87 yellow and seven red cards in 24 matches this season. Bennett previously took control of the Blues in last season's 3-1 FA Cup defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Squad: Supple, Price, Sito, Barron, Wilnis, Naylor, De Vos, Magilton, Juan, Garvan, Richards, Westlake, Williams, Currie, Lee, Bowditch, Haynes, McDonald.