SIXTO Peralta could be playing for his Ipswich Town future when he lines up against his parent club Inter Milan in the third round of the UEFA Cup at Portman Road tonight.

By Elvin King

SIXTO Peralta could be playing for his Ipswich Town future when he lines up against his parent club Inter Milan in the third round of the UEFA Cup at Portman Road tonight.

The Argentinean is currently on a one-year loan to Town from the Italian giants, and he has already expressed his desire to become a permanent member of the Tractor Boys playing staff.

Ipswich manager George Burley said today: "There is a clause in Sixto's current contract that we have first call on his services in 2002/03. We will give him every opportunity to show what he can do and make a decision at the end of the season about his future.

"Sixto has done very well. He is a youngster with a lot of talent and he is determined to do well."

Peralta, who is likely to start in the centre of midfield in front of a near-capacity crowd tonight, said: "We are a Premiership side and we are good enough to beat Inter Milan on aggregate. They are a big name but we have no reason to feel overawed."

Richard Naylor is set to take over the scoring mantle of injured striker Marcus Stewart. Naylor is likely to start alongside 22-year-old Spaniard Pablo Counago with 17-year-old Darren Bent, who made his Town debut when he came on as substitute in the last round at Helsingborgs IF, on the bench.

"Richard is pushing for a start," said Burley. "He has done well in training. We have one or two alternatives to play up front."

Stewart, out for eight weeks with a broken jaw, scored two goals in the 3-1 victory in Sweden on November 1 after the teams drew 0-0 in the second round, first leg at Portman Road.

Striker Alun Armstrong is back in full training but Burley said it would be a risk to start with him after his viral infection and he is likely to join Bent on the bench.

John McGreal is also set to be named one of the substitutes after missing three weeks with a back problem. Midfield man Jim Magilton faces a fitness test after suffering a slight thigh strain in training on Tuesday.

TONIGHT'S SQUADS

Ipswich Town: Sereni, Wilnis, Bramble, Venus, Hreidarsson, Wright, Peralta, Holland, Reuser, Naylor, Counago, Clapham, Branagan, Bent, Makin, Gaardsoe, Miller, Croft, McGreal, Magilton, Armstrong and Marshall.

Inter Milan: Toldo, J Zanetti, Materazzi, Cordoba, Gresko, Di Biagio, Seedorf, Guly, C Zanetti, Ventola, Adriano, Kallon, Fontano, Georgatos, Conceicao, Farinos, Okan and Emre,

Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark).