JIM Magilton today admitted that he will be going into Saturday's crunch home Championship game against QPR without his trump card.The Ipswich Town manager would dearly love to have 26-year-old midfield general Gavin Williams on the park in a match the Blues cannot afford to lose.

By Elvin King

JIM Magilton today admitted that he will be going into Saturday's crunch home Championship game against QPR without his trump card.

The Ipswich Town manager would dearly love to have 26-year-old midfield general Gavin Williams on the park in a match the Blues cannot afford to lose.

Welsh international Williams has undergone two injections for a pelvic complaint and has missed the last five games - all lost.

Williams was involved in the previous 13 matches when Town were beaten just three times. He is the last Town player to score a first half goal from open play - against Leeds on December 16.

So, the under-pressure Ipswich boss wants Williams back on the field as quickly as possible.

“Gavin is making great strides, but this Saturday will be too early for him,” said Magilton, who holds no grudge with the player who joined six team mates on an unauthorised jaunt to Amsterdam in the New Year.

Williams was disciplined and the matter is now forgotten as far as both parties are concerned.

“We need Gavin fit,” added Magilton. “He is a vital member of our squad and has the ability to make things happen. He carries the ball and goes at the heart of defences.

“I want him fit, and hopefully he will be available for selection against Hull.”

Records suggest that if Williams is a regular in the final games this season Ipswich will stand a much better chance of securing their Championship place.

But he took a long while to recover from a groin problem that saw him miss two months last autumn, and this is a worry.

“I want Gavin to play as many games as possible, but we don't want to risk him breaking down,” said the Town boss.

Richard Naylor (bruised toe) and Fabian Wilnis (hamstring) both hope to be back in contention to face QPR.

The Londoners have just three wins in their last 18 games - one in the last nine - while Ipswich have failed to score for more than nine hours and have lost their last five matches.

With the stakes so high Ipswich fans are expected to put on hold any grievances with the club and give the team 100 per cent backing in the scrap for survival.