Assistant boss Chris Hutchings has hinted that there could be changes to the Town side which faces Hull City at the KC Stadium on Saturday. The match is the Blues’ third of eight in March with fatigue a concern for the Town management.

Hutchings said: “The team’s been playing well, so it’s very difficult to change it. We’ve had a period of games and it’s been in our minds that we might change the formation or we might change the personnel on Saturday because there are many, many games coming up.

“Whether we decide that will be seen later on. It’s something in the back of our minds that we’ve got quite a few players that can come in and do different jobs for us.

“Those experienced players who are out of the side are itching to get back in but the younger lads are doing their best to keep them out.”

An additional factor to come into the thoughts of Hutchings and boss Paul Jewell was the late arrival back in Suffolk after the Southampton game with diversions on both the M3 and the A12 extending the journey well into the small hours: “A horrendous trip back!

“But we’re back, we just get on with it and deal with it. We all moaned but we’ve had a little bit of recovery and we’re raring to go again because we’re doing OK at the moment.

“Because of the intensity that we played and the travelling, maybe one or two fresh legs coming in is something that we’re looking at. Some people do it, some people don’t.

“It might be at half-time you see how things go and you might have to change it then. We’ll have to wait and see.”

In the second half of the FA Cup tie at the KC Stadium in Hull in January, which the home side won 3-1, the Blues switched to a 4-5-1 formation at half-time, something which may come into the management's thoughts.

Hutchings said: “They stick to a system that they play well with one up top, two staying wide and one coming off the striker and causing problems. It’s something that we’ll look at, work on in training and decide which way we want to go about it.

“We want to go there and win the game. We’re not going there to shut up shop, that’s for sure. We’ve said before that wherever we go we want to try and win games, but we’ve got to be solid while we’re doing that.”

New signing Ryan Stevenson has come off the bench in the last two games and Hutchings says the Scot is itching to make his first start for his new club: “He hadn’t played a lot after being up in Scotland. His wife’s just had a baby, which is great and she’s moved down here now.

“He’s been on the bench for the last few games and had a little taster and he’s very hungry to start a game.

“But we’ve been winning and you’ve got to wait for your chance and be ready and take it when it comes.”

Also pushing for a place is Lee Bowyer, who is fit again after his groin injury: “Lee Bowyer was out injured and he’s come back into the fold and has been on the bench. We do have a number of options that we could chance.

“And we can’t forget Luke Hyam, he’s been very unlucky to be left out of the side. We just felt we needed a little bit more energy at that time because he’d played a lot of games for a young lad, like Aaron Cresswell’s played a lot of games.

“Tommy Smith has come in and done well, it’s Josh Carson’s first full season, JET’s first full season at this level. We just wonder whether it’ll catch up with one or two.

“Andy Drury’s come back from being on loan at Crawley and has done very, very well and sometimes you just have to tweak it here and there and freshen it up but it remains to be seen whether we do or not.”

Photo: Action Images

Wacko added 09:09 - Mar 9 Cue Bowyer, Kennedy, Leadbitter and the Diamond Formation
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alex12345 added 09:09 - Mar 9 Is it just me who thinks that maybe there is more than meets the eye with this whole Jimmy Bullard thing. Last time we played Hull he conveniently had the flu for around four weeks. Now i'm not saying that the guy wasn't ill but i've never known a flu to last for four weeks. And this time he's conveniently suspended for the trip to the KC. Maybe i'm completely over thinking it all but could there be something more to it?

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Hamish1979 added 09:27 - Mar 9 I see what you're thinking Alex12345 however I doubt Bullard is intelligent enough to devise such a cunning plan. He's just a p#ss head.
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ElginCityBlue added 09:47 - Mar 9 If it aint broke, don't try and fix it...
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sexyjimps added 10:00 - Mar 9 Whatever PJ decides to do with the team tommorow, is fine with me, but I would really, really like to see Carson come back in the side, JET was quiet on Tuesday. The only changes I can see is to the midfield, but In PJ we trust! COYB
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cartman1972 added 10:05 - Mar 9 JET was NOT quiet on Tuesday I was at the match and he was heavily involved in our attacking play and was unlucky to not be on the scoresheet. Need him in the side at the moment as he is developing with every game . It's good we now have competition for places and they players have all stepped up recently. Don't see the usual 0-0 for Hull!!!
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meekreech added 10:08 - Mar 9 Cannot leave out PLAYER OF THE MONTH Lee Martin !!!!
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muhrensleftfoot added 10:15 - Mar 9 These are fit young guys, and I cannot believe that playing a game every 3 or 4 days should give them fatigue! The only reason to change a winning team is if anyone has any injuries. We also shouldn't change our formation because of Hull. Let them change theirs because of us...
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Surco72 added 10:20 - Mar 9 I would replace Leadbitter with Bowyer or Hyam ,and Carson for Murphy .Start with Drury but he did look tired against the Saints so maybe more time for Stevenson
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Guthrum added 10:20 - Mar 9 If we have that flexibility, why not make use of it during an intense period of the season? Changes of formation during the game are used by other teams to counter or wrong-foot the opposition, why shouldn't we do a bit of that, too? For that matter, there was nothing inherantly wrong with the Jewell diamond (particularly in September and early October), it was just used too often, against the wrong teams and the personnel weren't performing. A switch to 4-4-2 won us a point on Tuesday. Flexibility, both on the field and off the bench, provides opportunities.

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tellitasiseeit added 10:36 - Mar 9 muhrensleftfoot Agree with your comment keep our formation let them work out theirs to combat it.I am wondering if any of our players have been off form slightly during training,and Hutchings comment on possible team change could be a wake up call to some of the players.They must know who is performing well and others perhaps not so well? I know that certain players are very poor in training ,but in the real game are great. Chops was carrying a slight injury maybe they may give him a rest? who know's my prediction 1-1 draw or 1-2 Town COYB

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osborne1nil added 10:38 - Mar 9 Apparently Leadbitter had a decent game against Southampton but would start with either Hyam or Bowyer in his place and Carson on the bench with Stevenson, both to come on if the players are tiring. I would also give Scotland a longer period of time because he is still in form IMO and if he was played more would have been scoring more goals.
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jas0999 added 10:46 - Mar 9 Re Bullard - a complete waste of money - just as the Hull fans warned.
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legoman added 10:56 - Mar 9 Back in the day, town didnt train in between matches when they were coming thick and fast. Just the fringe players trained and the best of those were picked as subs.
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Langdon_Blue added 11:54 - Mar 9 Seems sensible to freshen things up and keep everyone in the squad on their toes...
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Michael11 added 12:02 - Mar 9 Surely its the 18-25 year olds who don't need the break at the moment? they are young and hungry lads who recover from games alot quicker than the old boys, don't change a confident side!
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PSGBlue added 12:13 - Mar 9 Don't want a team that ends up with Bowyer and Leadbitter in the same midfield, it would be a backward step. We need to continue with the "young hungry" player policy. Would like to see Hyam come in for Leadbitter, Hyam must have been rested by now. Possible Carson for JET at some stage if JET is starting to flag (much like against Bristol City). Otherwise don't change it.

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davekl12 added 12:31 - Mar 9 Keep roughly the same team, lets not tinker with a winning formula... I'm sorry, but I've played 3 games a week at a fairly intense pace on many occasions this season... Games make you stronger and fitter, rarely do they fatigue you over a 3 day period... I can understand fatigue difficulties with 2 day breaks, but 3 day, no excuses! They're payed huge bucks to play football! Accumulative fatigue always seems like a myth to me, just a petty excuse usually.

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Bergholtblue added 13:04 - Mar 9 Cartman1972 .. I was not at the match so I respect that you have first hand knowledge. However, your view does not match that of the commentators and summerisers on Radio Suffolk. Both said that he produced little in the game. I was at the Bristol C match. After an almost sensational first half JET was anonymous for the second half. Perhaps he is carrying a knock, I don't know but I would swap him for Carson agianst Hull.

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footyblue added 13:13 - Mar 9 What bull they just want to play the old guard time for a change if thats the case
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carsey added 13:21 - Mar 9 I just hope this is rubbish talk for the benefit of Hull. Youngsters should be able to play a match every 3 or 4 days so leave it alone. Why would you change something that works. I would like to see Carson included at least on the bench and possibly start with Scotland for a change but NO to Bowyer and any of the other old gits.
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stinkiusminkius added 13:35 - Mar 9 Jas0999 what is wrong with you? I seriously think you have a problem and need to seek help. All the other posters come on here and give their opinions re team selection (as that's what the article is about), but you come on and drag up a very loosely related topic to give yourself the opportunity to whinge. I do ActuSlly think that you are mentally unstable.
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Garv added 14:11 - Mar 9 I wouldn't drop JET, simply for confidence reasons. I don't think he is the type of player who, if you leave him out will necessarily react positively to it. I think we should persist with him even if he does have quiet spells during the game. He was unstoppable first half against Bristol and after all he nearly won us the game with that free kick on Tuesday. I think we'd be very disappointed with Carson having seem what JET can do in recent weeks.

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TractorBeezer added 15:15 - Mar 9 I agree with Osborne1-0. It may well be appropriate to give Scotland a longer shift depending on how things are going. We know that Chops is carrying a knock. Watched his goal v Southampton on the highlights and he made it all by himself. Starting very wide on the right he kept possession for a while....shielding the ball and moving across into a shooting position. Always good to have someone like that available.

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itfc1981 added 16:17 - Mar 9 Cue defeat if the old guard play.
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