JOHN Gorman, the Ipswich Town assistant manager, today picked out Mexican international Giovani Dos Santos as the man to cure the Blues' goal scoring ills in Sunday's Championship derby against Norwich City at Portman Road.

Elvin King

JOHN Gorman, the Ipswich Town assistant manager, today picked out Mexican international Giovani Dos Santos, inset, as the man to cure the Blues' goal scoring ills in Sunday's Championship derby against Norwich City at Portman Road (kick-off 12.45pm).

Gorman was impressed by the 19-year-old when he came on as a second-half substitute and scored a late leveller from the penalty spot in Monday's 1-1 draw at Bristol City. The tricky customer is set to start against relegation-threatened Canaries, and Gorman can see him weaving some magic.

“Gio did not have the best of games against Doncaster last Saturday,” said Gorman. “But he was a different proposition when he came on at Ashton Gate.

“He has the ability to go beyond people and to make things happen, and he could be our match winner against Norwich.”

Jon Stead, who is leading Town scorer with 11 goals, is also in line to start on Sunday having recovered from a back strain.

Stead has scored in two of his last 12 appearances, which is a much better return than Town's other main strikers Pablo Counago and Kevin Lisbie.

Counago, who scored 12 goals last season on his return to the club, has nine goals this term, but has only found the net once in his last 17 appearances.

And last summer's �1million signing from Colchester United Lisbie has seven in total, and just one in the last 26 matches he has featured in. Dos Santos has two goals in five appearances.

In total, Town have netted only four times in their last eight games which will give Norwich hope that if they find the net they can return to Norfolk with all three points and close to Championship salvation. On Monday, Gorman was wired up to a walkie-talkie system from the back of the Ashton Gate stand relaying messages to coach Steve Foley on the bench.

“Steve was then passing my thoughts on to manager Jim Magilton,” explained former England coach Gorman.

“We feel it is best for one of us to get a higher view of games, and in previous matches it has been Jim who has been in the stand for the opening part of games.

“It can be all legs and all rush from ground level, and you get a better perception of how the game is going from higher up.

“We haven't made our minds up yet, but one of us will most likely be starting Sunday's game in the directors' box.”

Town still have tickets on sale for the Norwich game, and they are anticipating a gate of around 28,000. There will be no paying entry through turnstiles, but the Portman Road ticket office will be open from 9am until 11am on Sunday. Fans are advised to arrive early due to the likelihood of long queues.