IPSWICH Town centre-back Ibrahima Sonko is a major doubt for Saturday’s Championship visit of Crystal Palace.

The towering defender had to be substituted during the second half of Tuesday night’s 1-0 home win over Portsmouth after suffering a hamstring injury.

Blues boss Paul Jewell – who has named the same starting XI for the last six games – has also admitted that some of his other players are carrying ‘knocks and niggles’.

He said: “Ibrahima Sonko is doubtful because he nicked his left hamstring and there was a little bit of fluid on it yesterday.

“As we sit here on a Thursday, he’s a doubt and there are one or two other knocks and little niggles that we don’t really want to disclose. We’ve got one or two little doubts for Saturday.”

If Sonko misses out, the Town manager will have to choose between Damien Delaney and �var Ingimarsson. The former has been the man on the bench in recent weeks, possibly due to his ability to play left-back and centre-back.

However, Ingimarsson was the man who started the season at centre-back before a thigh injury struck. And as a right-footer he would keep a natural balance in the central partnership.

Teenage Manchester City loanee Reece Wabara can also play at centre-back, but he agrees with Jewell that right-back is his best position.

Striker Jason Scotland may be one of the other injury concerns with Jewell mentioning on Tuesday night that the Trinidadian had been carrying minor back and hamstring problems in recent weeks.

The Blues boss substituted the forward at half-time on Tuesday night, saying he looked a little ‘jaded’, and may be considering giving Nathan Ellington his first Championship start at the club following seven substitute appearances.

– See tomorrow’s EADT and Evening Star for all the latest Blues news.