DEFLATED Blues boss Jim Magilton is looking for the real men in his squad to stand up and be counted.

Derek Davis

DEFLATED Blues boss Jim Magilton is looking for the real men in his squad to stand up and be counted.

Following the humiliating capitulation against Southampton, Magilton wants to find out who the players with character are as they prepare to take on Championship leaders Wolves and then automatic promotion challengers Reading away next week.

Town will be without skipper Gareth McAuley for the trip to Molineux as he serves a one match ban but Magilton watched Iv�n Campo complete 65 minutes for the reserves in their goal-less draw at home to Luton yesterday afternoon.

There could be other changes as Magilton contemplates shaking up his squad.

Magilton said: “One or two players will have sleepless nights, that's for sure.

“After a performance like that you can't get carried away but we are going to Wolves who are top of the table and you have to consider where we are going and what we are going to do tactically. Players will have to look in the mirror and ask themselves questions.

“We have two tough away games now and we will be without our captain for Wolves. I will now find out who are the men in the team, the people who will stand up and be counted. We need people to show character now more than ever.”

Northern Ireland defender McAuley misses out after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Preston and Magilton admits his absence will be a big blow after his recent form.

As well as Campo, Town hope to have Ben Thatcher fit after a sore foot, while Moritz Volz will have more time to recover from a groin problem.

Magilton said: “We will miss Gareth on Tuesday.

“He has done very well for us since the turn of the year. We are going to miss him - he is our captain and leader.

“We have one or two who can come back so we will field a strong 16.

“Ivan will have a chance after playing in the reserves and we will look at Ben and Moritz.”

Magilton will be looking for his players to respond positively at Wolves after being beaten by relegation-threatened Southampton.

He admitted his team may have paid the price for taking them too lightly.

He said: “They beat Preston and Cardiff and come to Ipswich and won so I'm amazed they are down there. Maybe we underestimated them and got spanked because of that.”

The former Saints player now hopes his old club can escape the drop.

Magilton added: “I think they can get out of trouble and I wish Southampton well. Their attitude and application here was first class.”