THE newest strike partnership to spearhead Ipswich Town's attack gets another chance to blossom tomorrow when Alan Lee and Ricardo Fuller start together for just the second time.

By Derek Davis

THE newest strike partnership to spearhead Ipswich Town's attack gets another chance to blossom tomorrow when Alan Lee and Ricardo Fuller start together for just the second time.

The duo became the 20th strike pairing of the season on Tuesday at Preston, after a season of injuries and suspensions shattered Town hopes of finding a partnership to match Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent's 39 goals of last year.

Fuller, whose initial month's loan spell ends after Town's home game with Hull City, is likely to stay for the rest of the season, and beyond, with Royle making it clear he wants to keep the Jamaican who he chased for some time before securing him from Southampton.

Royle said: “I have made it no secret that I would like to keep Ricardo but he is still on Premiership wages and we will have to look at the finances. I knew what to expect and he has not disappointed with one goal in two games. He has also fitted in very well and very quickly.”

Lee, who has hit four goals in seven games since his £150,000 move from Cardiff City, is expected to recover from a sore foot to play, as Royle looks to finish the season with a flourish.

Royle said: “We will be going to Crystal Palace looking to win the game and playing our usual way.

“They will be difficult and are up in the play-offs because they have had strikers, apart from Andy Johnson, who have been fit all season.

“We have had 20 different strike pairings this season and when you look at clubs with 15-goal forwards this year, we have not got a striker who has played 15 games.”

Young Irish international defender Chris Casement has been added to the Blues' 17-man squad to take on promotion-challenging Palace.