Middlesbrough v Ipswich preview
Last Updated: September 23, 2011 11:25am
Emnes: Rested in midweek
Team news ahead of Saturday's Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Ipswich at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough are expected to welcome back Marvin Emnes after resting their eight-goal leading scorer for Tuesday night's Carling Cup third round defeat at Crystal Palace.
Full-back Joe Bennett is available after suspension following his sending-off in the league game at Palace last Saturday.
Malaury Martin missed out in midweek through illness and his condition is being assessed, while Seb Hines (knee) and Jason Steele (fractured wrist) continue to work their way back to full fitness.
However, Jonathan Franks (dislocated shoulder) could be out for up to 12 weeks after undergoing surgery.
Ipswich, meanwhile, are facing an anxious wait over Ibrahima Sonko.
The centre-back was withdrawn after just 35 minutes of Monday's 3-0 win over Coventry nursing a knee ligament strain but will be given as much time as possible ahead of the Riverside clash.
Damien Delaney stepped in to replace Sonko and the Irishman will compete with fit-again Ivar Ingimarsson to partner Danny Collins at the heart of defence if Sonko is ruled out.
Winger Lee Martin has now completed his three-match suspension but will also face a late check having struggled over the last couple of days with tonsillitis.
Midfielder Mark Kennedy has missed the last two matches with a calf problem and is not yet ready for first-team action having suffered a setback in his recovery.
Sonko's fitness battle aside, manager Paul Jewell will be hard pushed to make changes to the XI who convincingly brushed aside Coventry to record only Town's second win amid a string of five defeats.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
