BLUES Boss Jim Magilton has three reasons to be wary about tonight's trip to Hull City - Nicky Forster, Dean Windass and Stephen Elliott.Ipswich are expected to pack the midfield once more in a bid to control the game but Magilton admits the Tigers have bite in attack, and also have talisman striker Nick Barmby back in the squad.

By Derek Davis

BLUES Boss Jim Magilton has three reasons to be wary about tonight's trip to Hull City - Nicky Forster, Dean Windass and Stephen Elliott.

Ipswich are expected to pack the midfield once more in a bid to control the game but Magilton admits the Tigers have bite in attack, and also have talisman striker Nick Barmby back in the squad.

Magilton said: “Hull have a lot of experience with some very good players who are a threat.

“Ray Parlour is a top, top player. Dean Windass relishes the opportunity of playing at this level. He is someone I have always been a fan of and is a goal threat.

“Then they have Fossy (Nicky Forster), who will be desperate to do well against us and Stephen Elliott, who I know well from Northern Ireland. They are danger to any side as they showed against Birmingham.”

Town's answer is likely to be giving on-loan Blackburn striker Francis Jeffers his full debut, with Jon Walters struggling with a sore hamstring and Alan Lee not always comfortable with three games in a week.

Magilton said: “As a rule Alan is not as effective in midweek games, even though he gives maximum effort.

“We have only got Frannie for a month so we want to see him play. We have to go and try and win the game. It is the spare game, if you like, and both teams need the points.

“They will be a little nervy so we need to be on the front foot. We need to control possession, quieten the crowd and go on the counter.”

George O'Callaghan has been used to good effect in away games and Magilton is expected to stick with a loan striker.

He said: “The system has worked well away from home but we will look at the personnel and go from there.

“Watford away we played well and didn't score it was the same at Southampton and we had to change because we were chasing the game.

“It is important that we still have something to play for but we are also building for next year and we need to make a statement of intent.

“These next games will tell me a lot about the players we have here.”

Sylvain Legwinski has been struggling with a knock but should be fit, while Richard Naylor and Fabian Wilnis have recovered from injury but will not be included.

The duo are expected to start against Ipswich Wanderers in the Suffolk Premier Cup tomorrow.