Town boss Roy Keane is waiting on the fitness of midfielder Carlos Edwards ahead of Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace. The Trinidadian is close to a return from his groin injury, but Grant Leadbitter is set to miss out due to the ankle problem he sustained in last week’s 1-1 home draw with Burnley.

Keane says he is hopeful that Edwards could be back in his increasingly threadbare squad: “Grant probably won’t make it for this weekend, but he may be available for Tuesday. Carlos we hope will be available.”

Even if the former Wrexham, Luton and Sunderland man does return, Town still have a lengthy injury list with Connor Wickham (ankle) at least still three or four weeks away from being back, as is Damien Delaney (thigh).

Mark Kennedy is likely to be out for another fortnight with the hamstring problem he sustained at Middlesbrough, Alan Quinn has been out with a groin problem which requires rest and Luciano Civelli is not yet close to a first team return after the setback he suffered in the summer as he continues his recovery from his long-term knee injury.

Central defender Troy Brown could be back on the bench after missing out last weekend having hurt his ankle at Exeter in the Carling Cup.

Despite his continuing frustrations regarding further additions to his squad, Keane has signed Celtic’s Darren O’Dea on loan this week and the Blues boss says the Irish international will go straight into the squad. The Blues boss is pleased to have brought in his one-time Bhoys team-mate: “Young Darren’s a good young player, he’s played at a very high level with Celtic. He’s played in the Championship before [with Reading] and he wants to come to the club and do well. “He’s a good lad , he’s trained with us this week and he’s settling in very well. He’ll do well for us, he’s a good character.” The lengthy list of absentees means that Keane is unlikely to make too many changes to the side which drew with Burnley. Márton Fülöp will continue in goal with Jaime Peters at right-back and Gareth McAuley and Tommy Smith at the centre of the defence. Shane O’Connor might face opposition from new signing O’Dea at left-back, but Keane may decide to introduce the 23-year-old from the bench or at Crewe in the Carling Cup in midweek.

Town are likely to continue with the three-man midfield with Luke Hyam sitting behind skipper David Norris and probably Colin Healy, although summer signing Conor Hourihane may also be in with a shout of a first team debut.

Up front, with the deal to sign Wigan’s Jason Scotland still to go through, Keane will probably start with Carlos Edwards on the right if he’s fit with Jon Stead — who has continued talks regarding his possible move away from Town this week — in the middle. Either Tamás Priskin and Spurs loanee Andros Townsend will start on the left with the other on the right if Edwards fails to make it.

Keane says the numerous former Town men at Palace gives the game additional spice: “It should be a good game, obviously we’ve one or two ex-players there and the manager. It’s set up for a good game and we’re looking forward to it.

“We had a tough game down there last season when Steady was sent off, which changed the course of the game.

“They’ve got a new manager and lots of new players and everyone knows that to get a result at Palace you’ve got to play well. It should be a cracking atmosphere. They had a good victory at home in their first game, but our spirits are good and we’re looking forward to it.”

Palace, who officially exited administration earlier today, have no new injury worries ahead of the match but Sean Scannell and Lee Hills are on the sidelines with long-term knee injuries. George Burley's men sit in 10th in the table having won one and lost one so far this season.

Selhurst Park has recently become a home for Town old boys with Burley the manager, Malcolm Webster the keeper-coach and Alan Lee, David Wright, Darren Ambrose, Lewis Price and Owen Garvan amongst the playing staff.

Released Town keeper Richard Wright has been training with the Eagles, while Pablo Couñago is set to complete a loan move later today (but won’t be able to play in Saturday’s match) and Burley added former Town academy schoolboy Stuart O’Keefe to his squad earlier in the week from Southend.

Palace’s summer signing from St Mirren, midfielder Andy Dorman, even spent time training with the Blues back in 2005 when a New England Revolution player. In contrast, none of Roy Keane’s current squad or staff have ever played for Crystal Palace.

Town have the edge over the years, winning 29 games between the sides (27 in the league), drawing 23 (23) and losing 24 (24).

Last season at Selhurst Park, Jaime Peters put the Blues in front and Town were well on top until Jose Fonte’s equaliser was followed by referee Paul Taylor showing Jon Stead a hugely controversial red card just before the break. In the second half the numerical difference told and Palace netted through Neil Danns and Victor Moses to complete a 3-1 scoreline.

Earlier, in the Portman Road fixture, the result was the same. Former Blue Darren Ambrose scored twice within a minute in the second half, Alex Bruce pulled one back for the Blues prior to Neil Danns settling any Eagles nerves.

Saturday’s referee is Jonathan Moss from West Yorkshire, who last season showed 121 yellow and eight red cards in 37 games. Moss’s most recent Town match was the 3-1 win at Derby in April in which he booked Town’s Jack Colback, Daryl Murphy and Gareth McAuley and the Rams’ Nicky Hunt, as well as showing Derby’s Stephen Pearson a straight red card for foul and abusive language, an incident which led to his manager Nigel Clough being sent to the stands.

Probable squad: Fülöp, Murphy, Peters, Ainsley, O’Connor, O’Dea, McAuley, Smith, Brown, Hyam, Norris, Healy, Hourihane, Edwards, Stead, Townsend, Priskin, Lambe, Murray.

Photo: James Ager

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