ALTHOUGH there could be as many as 11 changes from the side that lost at Coventry for the cup tie at Shrewsbury tonight, Roy Keane insists it is a game he wants to win against a manager who regards him as a 'top fellah'.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

ALTHOUGH there could be as many as 11 changes from the side that lost at Coventry for the cup tie at Shrewsbury tonight, Roy Keane insists it is a game he wants to win against a manager who regards him as a 'top fellah'.

Even before the defeat at the Ricoh Arena the Blues boss had planned a Tuesday side using the newly formed development squad.

That could mean competitive Town debuts for Jack Colback, Shane O'Connor and Troy Brown, while Colin Healy will also start if he is given the all clear on his blistered feet that became infected after a session in army boots.

Other Town youngsters such as Reggie Lambe, Jack Ainsley, Luke Hyam and Ed Upson, will also get the chance to step up for the game at the Prostar Stadium, where Shrewsbury moved to from Gay Meadow a couple of seasons ago.

While a few senior players will be with the squad it is likely only David Wright, Owen Garvan and Shane Supple, will start along with 16-year-old Connor Wickham.

Keane said: “The result against Coventry makes no difference. I had a team in mind and it is still the same. I was never going to play the same team

“I can't imagine any lad starting that started at Coventry.

“It is a difficult first week for us in terms of Sunday then Tuesday game s and the travelling that entails.

“The bench was pretty strong and I left some players at home with the Shrewsbury match in mind so it will still be a strong side, make no mistake about that.”

The Blues have not fared well in the League Cup over recent years, and their record at the old Meadow, with one cup win in four attempts and just two victories in eight attempts, in the league is not great but this is a new stadium and a new regime for the Blues.

Keane is looking for his side, even a second string, to bounce back from the City loss and start a morale-boosting cup run.

He said: “The beauty of football is as much as it gets you down there is another game and we have one on Tuesday.

Shrewsbury boss Paul Simpson has crossed swords with Keane in the past when as the Preston boss he was able to get one over on his Sunderland side, although they also did transfer business together with Tommy Miller going out on loan.

Simpson said: “It is a game I'm looking forward to and I'm looking forward to meeting up with Roy again.

“I know him from a few dealings I had with him at Preston. The public image of him is not always positive but I can say from meeting him face to face that he is a top fellah, a real genuine bloke who cares about the game.”

The Shrews are hoping to hand a debut to striker Kris Bright who they have signed from Greek outfit Panserraikos. The New Zealand international missed out on their 3-1 home win over Burton Albion on Saturday, as international clearance had not arrived but that should be sorted today.

Australian Shane Candell-Sherriff is expected to come in for on loan Joss Labadie who has not yet been given permission to play from his parent club West Brom, while former QPR veteran midfielder Paul Murray may be rested with Terry Dunfeld starting in his place.

Shrewsbury Town: Neal, Arestidou, Holden, Langmead, Coughlan, McIntyre, Hooman, Rizza, Dunfeld, Gray, Disley, Candell-Sherriff, Elder, Murray, Robinson, Hibbert, Bright, Simpson.

Ipswich Town: Supple, McLoughlan, D Wright, Bruce, Smith, Brown, Hyam, O'Connor, Ainsley, Lambe, Healy, Garvan, Upson, Colback, Quinn, Walters, Murray, Wickham,

Referee: Mike Russell (Herts)