THREE players are set for action after injury tonight as Ipswich reserves tackle Fulham at Portman Road (kick-off 7pm).The first-team pair of central defender John McGreal and striker Alun Armstrong are named in the squad.

THREE players are set for action after injury tonight as Ipswich reserves tackle Fulham at Portman Road (kick-off 7pm).

The first-team pair of central defender John McGreal and striker Alun Armstrong are named in the squad. McGreal has had a hamstring injury and Armstrong a further bout of back trouble.

Full-back Gary Croft, who underwent a groin operation in the close season, is also in the squad and hoping for some action again.

Former Blackburn man Croft may be under the scrutiny of scouts as he has said that a loan period might be good for him as he builds up to what he hopes will be more Premiership football for Town.

First Division Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion are both keen on the former England Under-21 man.

Tonight's game will give Ipswich fans a chance to see new Argentinian midfielder Sixto Peralta in action for the first time.

The player, on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season, made a scoring debut last week in the 3-3 reserve draw at Charlton.

Tommy Miller, Town's £750,000 midfield signing from Hartlepool, who impressed in pre-season before going injured, will also be making his first home second-team appearance this evening.

Giving vast experience to the reserves' defence will be Mark Venus, the defender who got back into action at the Valley last Wednesday after a lengthy rib injury.

Looking to continue his scoring flourish will be teenage striker Darren Bent. The England youth international scored twice for the first team in pre-season and hit two in the reserves opener at Charlton.

Fulham may give experienced midfielder Lee Clark a run-out after an Achilles tendon injury.

Andy Marshall, the Blues Bosman free transfer keeper signing from Norwich who has been out with a severe back problem, was hoping to begin a comeback against Fulham.

But he is not named and the vastly experienced Keith Branagan will be between the posts.

The Town squad is: Branagan; Croft, McGreal, Brown, Venus, Beevers, T Miller, Abidallah, Nicholls, Peralta, Bent, Armstrong, J Miller, Westlake, Artun, Ambrose, Logan, Salmon.