WITH the emergency loan window closing on November 23, Tommy Miller is expected to make his long-awaited Portman Road return over the weekend, with Mark Noble going back to West Ham after the Sheffield Wednesday match.

By Derek Davis

WITH the emergency loan window closing on November 23, Tommy Miller is expected to make his long-awaited Portman Road return over the weekend, with Mark Noble going back to West Ham after the Sheffield Wednesday match.

Noble will be missed for his dynamic performances in midfield that earned him the September Player of the Month accolade. While the Blues would like to take Noble again in January, they will face competition, even if Alan Pardew is wiling to let him go out on loan again.

Norwich City are understood to be keen on Noble and the manager Peter Grant has close links with the Hammers after serving as Pardew's assistant.

Miller's return on loan from his home-town club Sunderland will be well-timed, with Owen Garvan and Gavin Williams not quiet ready for regular 90-minute action.

Liverpool's Danny Guthrie is another player that manager Jim Magilton is monitoring and would like to take on loan.

There are a few Town players with Sheffield Wednesday connections and former Owls midfielder Magilton would relish getting one over on his old cub.

Alex Bruce helped Wednesday into the Championship after completing his nine-game loan spell.

That was in a play-off final appearance against Hartlepool at the Millennium Stadium.

Bruce is sailing close to the wind in terms of discipline and one more booking will earn him a two-match ban and a visit to the FA.

Simon Walton misses the game, as he becomes the latest Town player to be banned for one match due to racking up five yellow cards.

Fabian Wilnis returns from suspension following his red card at Plymouth

Gary Roberts will hope to keep his place and provide width for the Blues as they return to a two-man front line.

Billy Clarke's knee injury could be more serious than first anticipated. After failing to be fit for the defeat at Burnley, the young Irishman will miss tomorrow's clash with Wednesday and will have a scan to assess the extent of the injury.

Danny Haynes is in pole position to get the starting spot alongside Alan Lee. Jon Macken has recovered from a hamstring injury but is short of match fitness and may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Lee once famously scored a winning penalty against Wednesday for fierce south Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United, gaining elevation from hero to legendary status at Millmoor.

Defender Chris Casement has been pulled out of the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad that plays next Tuesday after failing to recover from his knee injury.