Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy makes no apologies for naming what will be a team of kids for tomorrow night’s Carabao Cup second round tie at Premier League club Crystal Palace.

The Blues have won their opening five matches to the season, but McCarthy has eight first-team players sidelined and says he can’t risk any more joining them.

As a result he’s confirmed he’ll be changing the entire team which started the recent 2-0 home win over Brentford with this Saturday’s Championship visit of Fulham in mind.

Teenage midfielders Flynn Downes (18) and Tristan Nydam (17) are confirmed starters at Selhurst Park, while fellow academy graduates George Fowler (19), Luke Woolfenden (18), Chris Smith (19), Pat Webber (18), Conor McKendry (18), Ben Folami (18), Monty Patterson (20), Ben Morris (18) and Shane McLoughlin (20) will also be involved.

“It will be all change, every one of them,” said McCarthy. “I’m not going to apologise for it, because I’ve got to do it.

“The first team players have been brilliant, but they are all feeling it and I want them to be ready to go again on Saturday. I can’t afford any more injuries or suspensions.

“Emyr Huws was going to play, but he’s back in the treatment room again.

“We’ve got a home game on Saturday and it if we could win it – and that will be tough – it would make it a great month and a great start for us.

“I doubt we’re going to win the Carabao Cup anyway. And I just don’t have the squad to cope with it.”

Asked if this would be the youngest team he’s ever fielded in his 25-year managerial career, McCarthy replied: “That’s a certainty. I’m not doing it to take the mick. I’m not doing it for any other reason than it’s essential.

“If anyone has bought their tickets, well come and watch the game and cheer our young’uns on because you never know what might happen.”

Palace, now managed by former Ajax and Inter Milan boss Frank de Boer, have lost their opening two Premier League matches.

“They’ll be desperate for a result,” said McCarthy. “There was already pressure on them and even more so against such a young team. If we can go there and relax and play, who knows, we might cause an upset.

“If ultimately we do get beaten it would be nice if somebody shines and I’m left thinking ‘wow, I can use him’.

“I don’t want anybody thinking ‘he’s thrown the towel in’, because I haven’t. I still want to win, but not at the risk of losing any more players.”