Cardiff v Plymouth. Match preview

Last updated : 31 December 2009 By Michael Morris

On-loan forward Kelvin Etuhu is the only slight doubt having limped off against West Brom with suspected ankle ligament damage, but scans have shown the injury was not as serious as first feared and he should be fit.

His cause was helped by the postponement of last weekend's home clash against Leicester, although there will be no repeat of that

this time around with the undersoil heating at the Cardiff City Stadium now fully up and running.

Defender Miguel Comminges and midfielder Stephen McPhail remain the only absentees as Cardiff look to make it four wins in a row and put the pressure on their fellow promotion-hopefuls.

Full-back Kevin McNaughton (calf), defender Gabor Gyepes and midfielders Peter Whittingham (groin) and Joe Ledley (hip) are all available.

Darcy Blake, who is on loan at Plymouth, will not be eligible to face his parent club.

Plymouth head coach Paul Mariner will be forced to change his team for the trip.

Defender Shane Lowry - who started at left-back in the 1-0 defeat by Coventry last Saturday - has returned to parent club Aston

Villa following his initial three-month loan spell with Argyle.

And right-back David Gray - who also started against Coventry - has returned to Manchester United at the end of his loan spell with Plymouth.

Argyle's on-loan Cardiff right-back Darcy Blake cannot play against his parent club, so Mariner will have to find a replacement.

Karl Duguid normally plays in central midfield but could fill in at right-back while Mariner is hoping experienced defender Chris

Barker, ruled out since the start of the season by a calf injury, will be fit to vie with Gary Sawyer for the left-back berth.

Argyle are boosted by the return of midfielder Luke Summerfield at the end of his successful three-month loan spell at Leyton Orient, where he earned glowing praise.

Sporting Life

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