ANDY Marshall has been welcomed back into the Blues fold by boss Joe Royle.After being left in the cold since the end of last season, Marshall will be in the first-team squad to face Crewe on Saturday.

ANDY Marshall has been welcomed back into the Blues fold by boss Joe Royle, writes Derek Davis.

After being left in the cold since the end of last season, Marshall will be in the first-team squad to face Crewe on Saturday.

Although Kelvin Davis missed training with a back injury yesterday, he is expected to be fit to face Crewe and Marshall will be on the bench.

The Blues keeper, who returned from a loan spell with Wolves at the beginning of January, will also play for the Town reserves against Wimbledon at Milton Keynes tomorrow.

Royle last night confirmed that the 28-year-old will be involved for Town and said: “Lewis Price is still a couple of weeks away from playing. We have Andy back, so we will use him and he will be on the bench on Saturday.”

Nathan Abbey, who has been the back-up keeper for the past month, was thanked for his services but told that he was no longer required by the Blues.

Royle added: “Nathan has been brilliant to have around the place. I have told him he can come and train with us any time he wants to. He understands the situation and knows we can not offer him anything. We have Andy back, Lewis coming back and Shane Supple is also fit again so we can not justify keeping him.”

Abbey was resigned to leaving and said: “I have known all along that this was just a short-term thing. Andy Marshall is back now, Lewis Price is getting better so I know I will be going and I have no problem with that.

“I have had a brilliant time here with Malcolm Webster and Kelvin Davis. Ipswich is a fantastic club with terrific facilities so it has been a pleasure.

“I have a couple of irons in the fire so we will see what happens.”

Davis was joined in the treatment room yesterday by Martijn Reuser, Jim Magilton and Matt Richards. But all were suffering minor aches and strains and are expected to be training again today.

There was better news about Darren Bent with the striker due to rejoin training on Thursday after an ankle injury.

Drissa Diallo and Dean Bowditch will join Marshall on the trip to Milton Keynes, with Georges Santos and Ian Westlake also being considered for a run-out.

Royle last night dismissed rumours that former Reading striker Jamie Cureton was on his way for a trial period with Ipswich after Sunderland's Mick McCarthy said the Black Cats would not be offering him anything, although he had impressed in training.