Ipswich V West Ham at Portman Road : Match Preview

31 January 2012 15:30
Bowyer misses out against Hammers

Lee Bowyer will miss Ipswich's clash with his former club West Ham due to a groin injury.

The 34-year-old midfielder, who scored the only goal of the game against the Hammers when the clubs met earlier in the season, missed the Tractor Boys' last fixture against Leeds with the same problem.

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is another absentee for manager Paul Jewell as he serves a one-match suspension after being sent off in the 3-1 defeat to the Whites.

Arran Lee-Barrett featured before McCarthy joined on a loan deal from Reading so should start. Jewell could hand a debut to midfielder Ryan Stevenson after he signed from Hearts.

Stevenson may not be the only new recruit in Jewell's squad as the Town boss revealed he had made bids for five players on Friday, including one for Falkirk defender Murray Wallace which has been accepted.

Matt Taylor is set to return to the West Ham squad. Taylor has missed the last eight matches with a calf injury but has had two outings for the reserves to prove his fitness.

However, fellow midfielder Papa Bouba Diop looks set to miss out with the hamstring injury he suffered against Nottingham Forest last time out so Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury is likely step into the centre.

In defence, Joey O'Brien has shaken off a knock, Guy Demel is fit after a thigh problem and American centre-half George John is pushing to be included in the squad for the first time since he joined on loan from FC Dallas a fortnight ago.

Ipswich V West Ham - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.

Source: PA