Ipswich Town defender Gareth McAuley is closing in on a return (From Essex County Standard)

Ipswich Town defender Gareth McAuley is closing in on a return

10:15am Wednesday 18th November 2009

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Defensive duo Gareth McAuley and Tommy Smith should be fit and available for Ipswich Town’s home date with Sheffield Wednesday.

Former skipper McAuley has recovered from the thigh problem that kept him out of Northern Ireland’s weekend friendly with Serbia.

Smith, meanwhile, picked up a hand injury in training and was forced to miss the last game before the international break, at Reading.

But he featured for the reserves in yesterday’s reserve match against Luton, which Ipswich won 3-1.

Town boss Roy Keane now has plenty of food for thought in terms of his back four, given that Alex Bruce and Damien Delaney have performed so well in the last two games, against Derby and the Royals.

They helped the side keep a rare clean sheet in the first game and then defended heroically when Town came under the cosh at the Madejski Stadium.

Keane said: “Hopefully Gareth should be available for Saturday and we will see how Tommy is, but he should be OK.

“The squad is getting stronger with the only two missing being David Norris and Luciano Civelli, who are both doing well.”

Midfielder Norris is on course to return ahead of schedule before Christmas, while wide man Civelli will be back some time in 2010.

Both players are recovering from knee ligament injuries.

Saturday’s game at Portman Road kicks-off at 5.20pm and is being shown live on Sky.

Meanwhile, midfielder Owen Garvan lashed in a stunning third goal to help Town’s reserves to victory at Luton.

Liam Trotter and Pablo Counago, from the penalty spot, had already hit the target before Garvan slammed home an Ed Upson corner.

His venomous shot from the edge of the area went in off the underside of the bar.

Town chief scout Steve McCall was spotted in the crowd among a host of representatives from various clubs, including Charlton and Liverpool.

Earlier in the week, Garvan was linked with a move to Queens Park Rangers, managed by former Town boss Jim Magilton.

The R’s are said to have made an enquiry regarding taking the Irish Under-21 international skipper on loan.

Garvan has previously been linked with Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest and Scunthorpe but turned down the chance to join East Anglian neighbours Colchester United.

He was a regular under Magilton’s management but has not featured for Keane’s side since August.

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