Blues boss Paul Jewell says he knows who will come into the side in place of centre-half Danny Collins at Leicester on Boxing Day but was keeping his cards close to his chest at this afternoon’s press conference. Collins returned to parent club Stoke on Monday.

Jewell says he has three alternatives: “Damien Delaney’s training, we’ve got Ívar Ingimarsson and we’ve got Tommy Smith.

“None of them have played a lot of football in recent times, but one of them will partner Sonks, providing nothing goes wrong with Sonks between now and Boxing Day.

“One of them will come into the team and I’ve got a team in my mind that I think I’m going to play at Leicester. But it’s Thursday today and we don’t play until Monday, so there’s quite a bit of training yet.”

Ingimarsson would appear to be the favourite having been involved in more senior football over the last few months and having played alongside Sonko during their time together at Reading.

The Blues boss has confirmed that keeper Richard Wright and skipper Grant Leadbitter are fully fit to return to the starting line-up if selected.

Midfielder Andy Drury is back at the club after 93 days on loan at Crawley and Jewell says the 28-year-old will also come into his thoughts: "Andy has been playing football for the last three months and he is looking sharp and fit.

"He's back here now and is a part of our squad so, like the rest of the players, he will be considered for selection as well."

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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