Sixto Peralta sadly is a serious doubt after picking up a thigh strain in training during the trip, whereas Marcus Bent missed out on Saturday's 2-1 win over Alania Vladikavkaz as a precautionary measure. He was suffering from a tight hamstring. Alun Armstrong also did not feature due to a sore back, a recurring problem for the committed and popular former Middlesbrough man.
George Burley has declared the tour a success. Let's hope so, and let's hope it has given the players just the break that they needed to recharge their batteries and put the Liverpool debacle firmly behind them. There are 12 very important matches left for Town now and fortunately that 6-0 defeat, coupled with the subsequent long break to brood over it, has led to a very timely dampening down of all the euphoria that was generated by Town's miraculous run of form from December 22nd onwards.
A look at the league table still makes pleasing reading currently, particularly when you consider, firstly, the dire situation that was Town's position in mid-December and, secondly, that other teams have played matches since Town's lay-off. Town have not suffered too badly and in fact now have a game in hand, sitting 5 points off the drop zone. Maximum points at home on Saturday against the Saints would be a convincing way to kick-start the second and final phase of our survival push.