Jack Lankester News Today

Coach Gerard Nash says his U23s will be determined to win a place in the Professional Development League Two play-off final when they take on Birmingham City at Portman Road this evening, even if developing players is more important than picking up trophies at that level (KO 7pm).

Will Keane and James Collins could return to the Town squad at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday having trained, while Teddy Bishop is expected to be back in the travelling party having missed out last week, but Jon Nolan is a big doubt. Long-term absentee Tom Adeyemi has also been training for the first time since pre-season.

Cole Skuse and James Collins are back in training ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Hull City, while Trevoh Chalobah is fine despite being withdrawn from the England U20s squad at the end of last week, however, Jack Lankester is unlikely to feature again this season.

Striker Freddie Sears says he’s now feeling good after a long battle back from the ruptured cruciate knee ligament he suffered at Norwich a year ago last Monday.

Town visit Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening as they go into a crucial run of games against teams in the bottom half of the division, a streak which gives the Blues a chance to put themselves firmly back in the automatic promotion hunt.

Boss Kieran McKenna is looking forward to taking on West Brom at a packed Portman Road in Saturday’s live-on-Sky, fourth-v-fifth clash with the Baggies one of only three teams to have beaten the Blues in the Championship this season (KO 12.30pm).

Town will be aiming to win back-to-back League One games for the first time since October when they visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday on what could prove a significant afternoon at the top of the division.

Town host Sunderland live on Sky this evening again trying to end their hoodoo against teams in League One’s upper reaches (KO 7.45pm).

Armando Dobra scored twice for Towns U23s but Colchester United netted an injury time leveller to grab a 2-2 draw with the table-topping Blues at Playford Road this afternoon.

Town boss Paul Lambert says he has no new injuries ahead of Saturday’s home game against Lincoln City and gave updates on the progress of Danny Rowe, Kane Vincent-Young, Tristan Nydam and Jack Lankester.