Ipswich Town host rock-bottom Bolton Wanderers at Portman Road tomorrow (3pm kick-off). STUART WATSON previews the Championship match.

Opposition

If it was a minor miracle for Phil Parkinson to get the Trotters back in the Championship at the first time of asking, it will be an even bigger one keeping them up.

Yesterday, the Lancashire club saw the transfer embargo they have been under since December 2015 finally lifted by the EFL.

A points deduction is highly unlikely, but still not completely put of the question for a club that has had so much off-field uncertainty.

Carabao Cup wins against Crewe and Sheffield Wednesday have set up a third round tie at West Ham next Tuesday, but they still await a league win after seven matches. There have been away draws against Millwall and Birmingham, but defeats to Leeds, Derby, Hull, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. Already 14 goals have been conceded.

Seven senior players could be sidelined for the trip to Portman Road, with Will Buckley and Derik Osede picking up injuries in midweek to join Josh Vela, Sammy Ameobi, Andy Taylor, Filipe Morais and Stephen Darby in the treatment room.

Former Brazil and Real Madrid striker Julio Baptiste, now 35, and ex-West Ham defender Joey O’Brien have both been on trial.

• Everton loanee Callum Connolly ready to show Town fans his ‘tough-tackling’ game

Skipper back

Town’s own lengthy injury list is clearing. Luke Chambers – who played every minute of every Championship game last season – insists he’s ‘genuinely ready’ to return to action after missing the last three league games with ankle ligament damage.

With fellow senior centre-backs Tommy Smith and Adam Webster also injured, Town have fielded a makeshift back four. Dominic Iorfa and Jordan Spence were the centre-backs at Loftus Road last weekend, with Everton loanee Callum Connolly making his debut at right-back and Jonas Knudsen at left-back.

• Town fans want Celina to start

Increased options

The big question is whether exciting Manchester City loanee Bersant Celina will be handed his first league start after scoring a stunning consolation goal at Loftus Road last weekend. The 21-year-old Kosvan international can play wide left of as a No.10.

Box-to-box midfielder Tom Adeyemi also saw his start to life with the Blues disrupted by illness following a summer switch from Cardiff. He could be handed his full debut after also stepping off the bench last weekend. Tristan Nydam could come back into contention after a knock.