by Tony GarnettMALKY Mackay, the Norwich City central defender, will miss the East Anglian derby against Ipswich Town at Carrow Road on Sunday, March 2.

by Tony Garnett

MALKY Mackay, the Norwich City central defender, will miss the East Anglian derby against Ipswich Town at Carrow Road on Sunday, March 2.

Mackay must serve an automatic one-match ban for his red card for two bookable offences in Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Southampton.

Mackay was booked by referee Graham Barber for a foul on Paul Telfer. Then nine minutes from the end Mackay fouled Brett Ormerod and a second yellow card meant he had first use of the smart baths at the new St Mary's Stadium.

The Canaries will be hoping that Darren Kenton, currently out with a dead leg, will be fit in time to play alongside Craig Fleming at the heart of the Norwich defence for the visit of Ipswich.

Last week Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson and chairman Freddie Fletcher tried to take advantage of Ipswich Town's current financial plight.

They hoped to secure England Under-21 stars Darren Ambrose and Darren Bent for a combined fee now said to be £3 million.

Their bid, made directly to the administrators at Portman Road, was rejected,

Newcastle, who appear to see little wrong with an approach that by-passed Town chairman David Sheepshanks and manager Joe Royle, say they would have let the two players stay on loan at Portman Road for the rest of the season.

It was strange behaviour from Sir Bobby Robson, whose statue stands proudly outside Portman Road. The incident is not likely to be quickly forgotten.

If Ipswich miss promotion this season they will almost certainly have to sell key players. Newcastle will not be the only club showing an interest in the two Darrens.

Everton have already been linked, but the pair will be the subject of many a scouting report between now and May.

If Town return to the Premiership they know that Darren Bent and Ambrose, if they prove themselves at the top level, will be considerably more valuable assets than they are at the present time.

Former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, still seeking a new post in football management, is working for Sky television. He will be commenting from the studio on tomorrow night's UEFA Champions' League Group B match between Arsenal and Ajax at Highbury.

tony.garnett@eadt.co.uk