sport

ROBERTS A CONCERN FOR DONNY

Roberts - doubtful

Defender Gareth Roberts is Doncaster's main injury concern ahead of the visit of Ipswich on Saturday, kick-off 5.20pm

Roberts (hamstring) is rated as doubtful for the clash at Keepmoat Stadium, while fellow defender Jos Van Nieuwstadt is at least two weeks away from a return with a hamstring injury of his own.

But there is better news for boss Sean O'Driscoll as on-loan West Brom defender Shelton Martis (hamstring), and midfielder James Coppinger (calf) are both fully fit and in contention for a place in the squad.

Defender Sean McDaid remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury and is unlikely to play again this season.

The Championship's bottom club have only won two of their 16 league games so far this season and are already seven points adrift of fourth-bottom Southampton.

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton is set to hand a second debut to Darren Ambrose.

Ambrose has returned to Portman Road on loan from Charlton and could be drafted straight into the starting XI at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Magilton has decided to keep faith with last week's match-winner David Norris despite the furore which surrounded his controversial goal celebration.

"It's not been an easy decision. I came very close to leaving him out to be honest," Magilton told the club's official website.

Tommy Miller and Ivan Campo are in contention to replace Norris along with Ambrose should Magilton leave the former Plymouth man out.

Left-back Ben Thatcher is back in training after tearing a thigh muscle in September but is short of match fitness while youngster Tommy Smith remains a long-term absentee with a broken ankle.