Chris Lakey Glenn Roeder has two major selection issues to deal with ahead of Sunday's derby clash, but was refusing to give away any clues today.

Chris Lakey

Glenn Roeder has two major selection issues to deal with ahead of Sunday's derby clash, but was refusing to give away any clues today.

The City boss has Gary Doherty knocking on the door for a place in the centre of defence, in place of either Alex Pearce or Jason Shackell.

But it's up front which could be the most intriguing decision, with Jamie Cureton, Dion Dublin and Ched Evans tussling for the two places.

Dublin would be the favourite to start, but Cureton is under pressure from Evans, who replaced the experienced striker last weekend and scored City's second against Burnley in time added on.

“He (Evans) has got a chance,” said Roeder. “I am not telling Jim Magilton my team, but he has got as good a chance as anybody, he really has. It's two from three and there is no guaranteed place for anybody, and they know it.

“In defence it's exactly the same - any two could play and the other one will be on the bench. “

Darren Huckerby's position on one of the flanks would seem assured.

“If I don't play two wide players at home I'm unlikely to play two away from home, so there is nothing to hide there,” added Roeder. “But with the central defence and striking positions it's two from three, and the ones that miss out will be on the bench ready to come on.”

Roeder saw Ipswich draw 1-1 at home to Cardiff in midweek and came away with his opinion on the Blues very much intact.

“It's always good to see your opponents live before you play them,” said Roeder. “All the work we do looking at DVDs of the opposition, nothing beats actually being there and having your own wide lens if you want.

“They are a good footballing team who want to pass the ball and to play the game in what I think is the right way.

“I'm not surprised because that mirrors the manager. I watched Jim Magilton many, many times play for Ipswich and that's how Jim played. He was a passing footballer and the team mirrors him.

“It should only add to it being a decent game of football because that's exactly what we want to do. It takes two to tango.

“Normally you want to get a good game, both teams want to get the ball down. And on Sunday both teams will want to get the ball on the floor as much as possible. Of course there is room for balls that are clipped over the top, the ball travelling through the air. We don't play a game of below head height, it would be nonsense, but the game basically as far as I'm concerned is played on the grass and obviously Jim's team does the same.

“But I think generally speaking Ipswich have done that under George, Bobby, Joe - they have always had what I call footballing managers. There is a certain group of managers I would think wouldn't ever manage Ipswich.”