FABIAN Wilnis may be a Dutchman but he relishes derby games as much as any Suffolk born and bred Blues fan.So for him to be ruled out with a groin strain is especially frustrating and he is even more unhappy at why it happened.

By Derek Davis

FABIAN Wilnis may be a Dutchman but he relishes derby games as much as any Suffolk born and bred Blues fan.

So for him to be ruled out with a groin strain is especially frustrating and he is even more unhappy at why it happened.

Wilnis limped out of Tuesday night's game just before half-time after picking up the injury when the teams returned from a 40 minute delay due to floodlight failure.

He will miss Sunday's clash against the team he last scored a goal and Town's bitterest rivals.

The Blues defender last night said: “I'm absolutely gutted to miss the Norwich game. It is a match I wanted to play in for several reasons and one we all want to win.

“They are special games and they mean a lot for me to play in them.”

Wilnis took stick from Norwich fans after Town played them at Carrow Road the last time, for pointing out that they would probably go straight down unless they changed personnel. He was proved right as City were relegated in their first season back, after failing to win an away game.

An initial diagnosis has ruled him out for three weeks, although he will have a scan on the problem area today to get a clearer picture.

Wilnis is determined to miss as few games as possible and has set his own return target.

He said: “I have been told three weeks but I want to be back within two, possibly even 10 days so I can play at Leeds.

“I am a quick healer and on top of the normal treatment I will use my wife's pilates which have helped in the past.”

Sito Castro will return to the side after a one-match ban and play right-back on Sunday, while Jay McEveley is expected to be fit after his illness and injury.

Wilnis will join team-mates Ian Westlake and Nicky Forster on the sidelines, while Jim Magilton is hoping to get the go-ahead after an arthritic toe kept him out of the 2-2 draw with Southampton on Tuesday.

While Forster is on track to return to action by early next month, possibly even the Crewe match on October 1, there will be no early return for Westlake.

The midfielder is still in a special cast and protective casing over his damaged ankle ligaments and has suffered further by being ordered not to do any swimming.

The man who beat Karen Pickering in a challenge race in the pool, has been told not to bend the ankle.

He said: “It is really frustrating. It is bad enough being injured but not to be allowed to keep up my fitness in the swimming pool is hard to take.”

Yet another injury blow means Joe Royle continues with his search for loan players and now hopes to have two in before Sunday's crucial match.

Royle was at last night's reserve game at West Ham's Upton Park which Town lost 4-0, casting his eye over some youngsters.

He said: “There may be opportunities for young players to come in.”

Daryl Knights hit the bar and had another effort cleared off the line in the Reserves' clash, but, despite dominating the first half, Town failed to take their chances and were four down at the break.