Ipswich v Bristol Rovers: Paul Jewell has promised to field his strongest available side in the Capital One Cup tomorrow night – admitting he has little choice.
The Blues go into their competitive season-opener at home to Bristol Rovers (7.45pm ko) without four players who would have featured in Jewell’s 18-man squad – Damien Delaney, Josh Carson, Ronan Murray and Andy Drury.
While the first three are all on international duty, midfielder Drury has failed to recover from his calf injury and will not be included.
With little choice but to play his strongest available line-up, Jewell admitted that the Blues will have a youthful bench which could include Cormac Burke and Gunnar Thorsteinsson.
16-year-old Byron Lawrence will definitely be in the 18-man squad as Jewell considers starting the teenager for the first time, probably in place of Carson, while Nathan Ellington will bring some much-needed experience to the ranks – despite the fact his future remains unclear.
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