OWEN Garvan faces an anxious wait to see if he will be recalled to play in Ipswich Town's Coca-Cola Championship game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate tonight (kick-off 7.

By Elvin King

OWEN Garvan faces an anxious wait to see if he will be recalled to play in Ipswich Town's Coca-Cola Championship game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

Blues manager Jim Magilton has confirmed that he dropped Garvan for Saturday's home draw with Barnsley.

The 19-year-old midfielder is rated the best of the crop of talented youngsters who have graduated recently from the Blues academy.

He has been earning rave reports with a series of good displays.

Garvan is recognised as having a natural football brain, and this allied with an astute passing range and high fitness levels marks him out for a big future in the game.

And without him in the 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United last month and the 0-0 home draw on Saturday, the Town midfield did not function with the same authority.

Garvan was rested at Bramall Lane in a match that came two days after the 2-2 draw at Norwich City, and returned to the starting line-up for the 6-0 home win over Bristol City that followed.

He was not on the bench against Barnsley, but remains in the squad for tonight's fixture as Town search for their first double of the season.

But whether he is recalled remains to be seen with Magilton saying: “Owen has not been playing particularly well and I left him out on Saturday.

“He is only 19, and is still learning the game.

“Owen is in the squad again for the visit to Bristol City.”

Magilton has a number of options to consider before naming his team.

The goalkeeper and back four will remain the same, but Garvan and Sylvain Legwinski will be two serious challengers for a midfield place.

And Magilton has to decide whether to maintain Pablo Counago up front or go back to the 4-5-1 system he has used earlier this campaign.

Striker Alan Lee should be fit after recovering from a stomach bug that forced him to leave the field early on Saturday, and Magilton has a squad with a clean bill of health.

He is well aware of the task in hand tonight despite the 6-0 home victory over Bristol City last month.

Magilton said: “Amazingly the stats from that game showed that City had more possession than we did - and they played virtually one half with ten men.

“City manager Gary Johnson was dignified after the game, but I know he will be looking for revenge.

“We must be ready for a bit more as they have every incentive to put one over us. But we know we are capable of beating them again.”