IPSWICH Town striker Tamas Priskin's world cup final hopes are hanging by a thread with his Hungarian side needing to beat Portugal today and Denmark on Wednesday to stand any realistic chance of reaching the finals.

Elvin King

By ELVIN KING

IPSWICH Town striker Tamas Priskin's world cup final hopes are hanging by a thread with his Hungarian side needing to beat Portugal today (SAT) and Denmark on Wednesday to stand any realistic chance of reaching the finals.

Priskin, who has scored two goals since joining the Blues from Watford for �1.7million in August, will win his 22nd cap if he faces Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. He has netted eight goals.

Town midfielder Carlos Edwards is also on world cup duty today although his Trinidad and Tobago side have already blown their chances of reaching the finals in South Africa next summer.

They play Costa Rica and then Mexico on Wednesday to complete their qualification programme; with Edwards set to add to his 76 caps and possibly his four goals.

In action last night (FRI), was Town's out-of-favour midfielder Owen Garvan who was set to gain his 12th Under-21 cap in Republic of Ireland's European Championship qualifier against Georgia in Dublin.

Garvan, who skippered the Irish Under-21's in their recent draw in Estonia, is also set to face Switzerland on Tuesday.

He said before the Georgia game: “We have played well in our opening two matches, but are still chasing our first win.

“Georgia and Switzerland are both going to be tough, but if we play to our potential there is no reason why we can't beat them.

“We have a very good squad, we're strong all over the pitch, we just want to go out and show what we are capable of.”

Town defender Gareth McAuley is training with the Northern Ireland squad this weekend before their must-win away game against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

If they lose McAuley, who has 19 previous senior international appearances to his name, will not be going to South Africa next summer.

He has been linked with a loan move to fellow Championship club Peterborough United having been told through his agent by Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg last month that it may be in his best interests to look for another club.

Things have moved on since then however with McAuley back in the Town side after a suspension and injury and earning recent praise from manager Roy Keane.

Town striker Connor Wickham has been called up for the England Under-17 squad for their European Championship qualifying games in Azerbaijan later this month.

England are set to play Serbia and Kazakhstan in Baku between October 26 and 31 with Wickham missing the home game Championship against Derby County on October 31, and possible the game at Plymouth seven days earlier, if he is released by Keane.