Keiren Westwood is in contention for a return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s home clash with Leeds.
Westwood has missed the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in the warm-up at Cardiff and Cameron Dawson has impressed Garry Monk after stepping up. A scan has shown no further problems with Westwood’s ankle so Monk has to decide whether to recall him or reward Dawson with another start.
Massimo Luongo has recovered from a knock on the knee which saw him limp off early in the second half of the midweek win over Stoke, a victory that lifted us into third place in the Championship and a point behind Leeds, with leaders West Brom a further two points clear.
Monk, a former Leeds manager, said: “We respect the fact that they are a good team and the way that they play but we have to work our way, focus on ourselves and if we do that we know we can give ourselves a good chance to win the game.”
He added: “It’s great. A massive atmosphere, a derby game, two big clubs, all the tradition and history that goes with it and two teams that are doing well at this time.
“Our only aim is our maximum and if we do that and put it into each game, and a game like this, we will be more than capable of being in a position to win the game.”