Ipswich v Charlton: Blues boss Mick McCarthy has decided to pre-empt any jadedness following the hectic Christmas period, making three changes to his starting line-up for today’s Championship visit of Charlton Athletic.

Town are third in the form table (only the top two of Derby and Leicester above them), their seven-game unbeaten run lifting them into sixth in the standings.

McCarthy has named the same team for the previous five matches, but has decided to shuffle his pack for what is the third game of a spell including four matches in 10 days.

Top-goalscorer David McGoldrick, fellow striker Frank Nouble and midfielder Luke Hyam all drop to the bench, with Paul Anderson, Jay Tabb and Paul Taylor all starting in their place. It’s Taylor’s first league start for Ipswich since he sustained a bad foot injury in September 2012.

It will mean a return to a 4-4-2 formation for the Blues.

Charlton boss Chris Powell has made three changes to his team following last weekend’s 1-1 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday. The full-back duo of Rhoys Wiggins and Chris Solly replace Cedric Evina and Johnnie Jackson respectively, while Marvin Sordell is in for Simon Church up front.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Gerken; Chambers (cpt), Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Anderson, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Tabb; Murphy, Taylor.

Subs: Loach, Mings, Hyam, Edwards, Wordsworth, McGoldrick, Nouble.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Alnwick; Solly, Morrison, Woods, Wiggins; Wilson, Stephens, Cousins, Stewart; Kermorgant, Sordell.

Subs: Hamer, Evina, Jackson, Dervite, Church, Pritchard, Cook.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.