NEIL Warnock has backed Roy Keane to become a Premier League manager once more.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

NEIL Warnock has backed Roy Keane to become a Premier League manager once more.

Although still fuming about Freddie Sears' goal that was disallowed and concerned about his team's morale ahead of tonight's game, the garrulous Palace boss took time out to praise the Town manager who is having his own minor difficulties after picking up one point from a possible six.

Warnock believes it is a blip and Keane will come good, as he has done in the past.

He said: “I really like Roy Keane and I think with them throwing money at it they will not be far away.

“They've got a lot of new players in and they will just push on as the season progresses.

"Roy has done well for the game and he put Sunderland on the map - I don't think they realise quite how much he did for them.

"He'll be back managing in the Premier League because he's just so motivated."

Palace are likely to stick with pretty much the same side that controversially lost to Bristol City on Saturday with two former Ipswich players in Warnock's line up.

Darren Ambrose, signed from Charlton as a free agent in the summer, will play wide right of a midfield with on-loan West Ham winger Sears on the other flank.

Alan Lee, who remains on the transfer list and being targeted by Swansea and Barnsley, spearheads the attack.

With Stern John having an operation on an elbow injury yesterday and Calvin Andrew out with cruciate ligament damage, Warnock has little choice but to use the ?? who was on loan at Norwich City at the end of last season but could not stop them from being relegated.

Alan Quinn will be hoping to be involved for the Blues today with Jaime Peters out with ankle injury, although Owen Garvan and Colin Healy could get the nod ahead of him in central midfield along with Liam Trotter.

Lee Martin suffered a kick on a shin in Saturday's goalless draw with Leicester city but is expected to make it.

Connor Wickham, Jon Stead and Tamas Priskin are jostling for the starting roles up front with two working better than the lone striker last Saturday, although Town may look to match Palace's five-man midfield formation.

Squads:

Ipswich Town: R Wright, Supple, D Wright, Delaney, Bruce, McAuley, Balkestein, Smith, Healy, Garvan, Trotter, Quinn, Colback, Martin, Walters, Priskin, Stead, Wickham.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Fonte, McCarthy, Hill, Derry, Danns, N'Daiye, Ambrose, Sears, Lee,

Referee: Keith Hill (Herts)