Ipswich Town host Sheffield Wednesday in a televised Championship match tonight (7.45pm ko). STUART WATSON previews the action.
Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy has told the likes of Freddie Sears, Grant Ward and Myles Kenlock to make sure they don’t disappoint upon their return to the first team.
Kenlock will replace the suspended Jonas Knudsen at left-back for tonight’s Championship visit of Sheffield Wednesday.
Meanwhile, with McCarthy having signalled his intent to rotate his squad during a busy period, striker Sears and midfielder Ward – who were mainstays last season – could be promoted from the bench.
“Sometimes the manager’s got a settled team and those not in it have to accept that,” said McCarthy. “But if somebody gets injured and you have three good games then that puts the pressure on the manager to say; ‘Do you know what? He deserves to stay in’.
“Jonas is first choice, but I hope Myles is brilliant and I’m thinking ‘maybe he deserves another one’.”
Sears has started just one of the last 11 games, while for Ward it’s two in eight.
“I had a discussion with Freddie a while a go,” said McCarthy. “He’s selfless in everything he does and when he does come on he generally has an impact.
“It’s the same with Wardy. I said to him ‘you were penned in every week for a while and it’s difficult when you’re not’, but you have to be prepared.
“The front four are playing well and they must realise that. They have to make sure that when they do get in the team they don’t disappoint.”
He added: “You can play someone for 10 games, not play them for two and suddenly I’m the villain. Actually, what about looking at yourself and asking ‘was I playing well when he left me out?’
“We haven’t got any of them. We’ve got really good characters, good lads and good blokes in this place.
“I try not to sign dissenters and moaners. I like people who get their heads down and don’t let you down.”
Confirming ‘it will be a different team’ from the one which started Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Hull, McCarthy added: “I had 20 first team outfield players out there today – that’s what I’ve got.
“That’s why it’s so important to get Bish (Teddy Bishop) back, and I mean really back, Tom (Adeyemi) really back and Emyr (Huws) really back to bolster that squad.”
Stat attack
6 in 8 – Goals for Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes against boyhood club Ipswich Town. He’s drawn a blank on the last two meetings (0-0 at Middlesbrough and 1-0 win for Wednesday at Portman Road).
2 – Since Noel Hunt’s dramatic late winner at Charlton, Town have won just two of their last 20 televised games.
9 – April (0-1 at Portman Rd) was the first time Town had lost to Sheffield Wednesday in nine meetings.
Opposition lowdown
Team name: Sheffield Wednesday
Nickname: Owls
Manager: Carlos Carvalhal (June ‘15: P125 W56 D35 L34)
Last three finishes: 4th, 6th, 13th (all
Championship)
Last game: D 0-0 Bristol City (h)
Form: DWWDLLWLLD
Biggest win 17/18: 3-0 Leeds (h)
Biggest losses: 2-0 Derby (a), 4-2 Sheff U (h)
Top-scorers: Hooper (8), Rhodes (4)
Most assists: Reach (3)
Most league starts: Bannan, Lees, Reach (17)
Ipswich Town team news
• Central midfield Emyr Huws (Achilles) and Teddy Bishop (groin) both return to the squad following long-term injuries. Mick McCarthy said: “We have four games in quick succession and they can both contribute. Whether they can cover 90 minutes of Championship football is another matter.”
• Jonas Knudsen is suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the season and will be replaced at left-back by Myles Kenlock.
• McCarthy made six changes to his starting XI the last time Town played in midweek (3-1 defeat at Cardiff). He says it will be ‘a different team’ tonight to the one which started Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Hull. • Tom Adeyemi (hamstring) is not due back in action until the start of December, while Luke Hyam and Andre Dozzell remain long-term absentees.
Sheff Weds team news
• Carlos Carvalhal may freshen up his team following Saturday’s goalless home draw with Bristol City. The Owls were booed off after failing to produce a single shot on target.
• Jordan Rhodes could drop to the bench. Kieren Lee may come in for winger Ross Wallace (flu). • George Boyd (shoulder), Sam Hutchinson and Fernando Forestieri (both knee) are long-term absentees.
Opposition key man
Barry Bannan The all-action Scottish midfielder impressed in both games versus Town last season, dropping deep and pulling the strings. Often drifts wide left too and will need careful attention.
Betting
Ipswich Town 2/1 Draw 27/11 Sheff Wednesday 17/11
Referee
Keith Stroud (Hampshire) Games: 8, Yellows: 42, Reds: 3
Last meeting
Ipswich Town 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017
A dull defeat was an apt end to Town’s forgettable home campaign.
Kieren Lee’s near post finish (77) settled an uneventful affair and sealed the Owls’ a second successive play-off spot.
Town had won 2-1 at Hillsborough, Tom Lawrence and Luke Chambers scoring.
Stuart’s prediction
Draws like London busses for Town? These two look evenly matched. Wednesday have had some impressive results on their travels but are wildly inconsistent, while Town could lose rhythm if there are several changes.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here