Ipswich Town and Norwich City have been given a relatively clean bill of health ahead of Sunday's East Anglian derby.

Derek Davis

Ipswich Town and Norwich City have been given a relatively clean bill of health ahead of Sunday's East Anglian derby.

Jon Walters is recovering well from a sciatica nerve problem that had affected a hamstring and hip and is in contention to play.

Although a couple of members of the admin staff and manager Jim Magilton had had colds, none of the players have been affected in this week's build up to the 90th Old Farm derby.

The whole Blues squad had flu vaccinations at the beginning of the season and the only player to suffer recently is Owen Garvan who was laid up in bed last week with a virus but was back on the training pitch on Wednesday.

Garvan may be short of fitness but otherwise Magilton has a full strength squad to call on, including Kevin Lisbie and Norwich born Alex Bruce who once spent a loan spell at Carrow Road.

Norwich City boss Glenn Roeder will be without the suspended John Kennedy who was sent off against Sheffield Wednesday and so banned for this one game.

But the Canaries defence has been bolstered by the return of Adam Drury, Ryan Bertrand and Elliott Omozusi with the latter likely to go in at centre half.

Roeder will have striker Leroy Lita available and is hoping he can extend the Reading player's loan spell and even make a permanent £500,000 move in January.

Roeder said: “I had a conversation with Nicky Hammond last week and I've had chat with the player, so hopefully we can do something about that on Monday

“Reading are happy with the situation as they've got instant recall on him. Bearing in mind his contract is up at the end of the year so he is in the shop window. It is better for him to be here than playing obscure reserve games. It has got to be better for Leroy to get first team football week in week out.

“To be fair he has made a big impression on the squad here the group of players. He has scored six in 11 but knowing the lad he will probably say he could have knocked in another 3 or 4 on the number of chances he has had but its still not a bad return excellent.”