Town boss Roy Keane says he will field another young side when West Brom come to Portman Road for Wednesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final. The Blues have almost an entire team injured, ineligible or suspended.

Keane said: “We’ll have to go with a young team once again, which I’ve not be pleased about over the last month or two because we’ve played too many youngsters at the same time.

“But we don’t really have a choice tomorrow night as a lot of players are cup-tied, Damien Delaney’s suspended, Márton Fülöp’s struggling with an ankle injury and Gareth McAuley and Mark Kennedy are not available, so we’ll just have to go with the younger boys. It’s not ideal, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

In addition to Fülöp, a doubt with an ankle injury, McAuley (achilles, January) and Kennedy (hamstring, fortnight), Connor Wickham (thigh) is out for another week and Luke Hyam for another fortnight with a hamstring problem. Alan Quinn is not yet ready for a first team return after his groin injury.

Better news is that Tom Eastman should be available after his groin injury, while young midfielder Jamie Griffiths is also a doubt after receiving a bang on the leg in training.

Loanees Rory Fallon, Jake Livermore, Jack Colback and Gianni Zuiverloon are all unavailable having played in the competition for their parent clubs earleir in the season.

Darren O’Dea’s girlfriend is still to give birth to their first child and the on-loan Celtic man could be called away to Scotland between now and Wednesday’s game.

The likes of Jaime Peters and Andros Townsend could return to the starting line-up, while Ronan Murray, Reggie Lambe and Troy Brown are contention for inclusion. Keane has confirmed that Argentinian midfielder Luciano Civelli will again be in his 18, having been in the Blues squad for the first time in 20 months at Norwich on Sunday.

Academy midfielder Caolan Lavery’s knee injury, sustained in the FA Youth Cup defeat to Peterborough last week, is worse than expected and the Northern Irish U21 international will be out of action for six to eight weeks.

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 05:16 - Dec 1 great to see our excellent manager instilling confidence in the youngsters !.hes a bloody disgrace and has all the diplomatic skills of a panzer sack him
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whippet added 08:12 - Dec 1 good comment bobble My team would be 4-4-2 Murphy Peters Smith O'Dea O'Connor Edwards Norris Leadbitter Civelli Priskin Scotland Keanes Team will be boring,boring, boring 5-4-1 Fulop (he'll probably play him even though the poor guys injured) Eastman, Brown, O'Dea, Smith, O'Connor (hope he finally plays him) Edwards, Norris, Leadbitter, Lambe Scotland Nice to see Roy keane so positive about his youngsters. Sounds like he has already made his excuses BEFORE the expected loss this time round. Norris and Fulop, thanks for actually apologising to the fans last time round.Unfortunately methinks you will be coming over to us again for this one. FORK

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whippet added 08:30 - Dec 1 Got to admit, do not really care about this game. feel ouir game against swansea on saturday is more important in our battle to avoid the drop
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bluelady added 08:38 - Dec 1 i agree Jas and Mark. I am cleary not happy with Keane, i am totally speachless after saturdays performance, and I am not happy watching the drab football we have had over the past few months. BUT i will support the team, i will be there tonight and i will get behind the young lads. Imagine if you are in your first real job, things are not going to well and then suddenly all your customers start to abuse you - will that help you peform better, i fear not. Yes have a go at Keane, but wait till the game is over please as it isnt him that suffers with his Rhino thick skin lording it with him gum on the touchline it is those kids out there that take the brunt of it irrespective of whom the charts are aimed at. Whippet agree with team minus Civelli, dont think he is mentally strong enough to start so would have Townsend (or is he injured??)

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Bergholtblue added 08:54 - Dec 1 Wouldn't it be ironic if there were 40,000 Town fans singing and dancing at Wembley all waving their litle plastic blue forks
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whippet added 09:46 - Dec 1 bluelady- not sure, but think Townsend might be cup tied or something?
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bluelady added 11:47 - Dec 1 no we had him on a season long Whippet so hasnt played for any other team as far as i am aware?
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