ALAN Mahon is raring to go after coming in from the cold to play for Ipswich Town Reserves against Chelsea at Portman Road tonight, writes Derek Davis.

ALAN Mahon is raring to go after coming in from the cold to play for Ipswich Town Reserves against Chelsea at Portman Road tonight, writes Derek Davis.

The Irish wing-wizard was knocked for six over the past 10 days after going down with a severe viral infection just as he looked to be successfully coming back from a hamstring pull.

Royle said: “I was ready to send him back to bed, he looked so ill, but he has made a tremendous recovery over the past 24 hours. He will start in the reserves and now has a chance to make the squad for Cardiff.”

The Blackburn Rovers midfielder, who has a month left on his loan at Ipswich returns just as Martijn Reuser suffered another set-back.

The Dutchman limped out of training yesterday after suffering a reaction to a recent groin problem.

Ian Westlake, who scored one and made one against Sheffield United, has missed training all week but is expected to return tomorrow after picking up a knock in a crunching tackle with Stuart McCall.

John McGreal is ready for a recall after a nine-month lay-off after Georges Santos emerged as a major doubt for Ipswich's trip to Cardiff.

Santos is then suspended for the game at Derby the following Saturday.

Royle said: “As yet it has not responded to treatment so we will see.

“Bearing in mind that, it is important for us to have John McGreal back.”

Ipswich Town Reserves: Price, Hogg, Barron, McGreal, Collins, Mitchell, Mahon, Miller, Abidallah, Bowditch, Armstrong, Morrow, Supple, Flack, Krause and Craig.