Blues boss Paul Jewell goes into Tuesday’s opening game of the season, the home Capital One Cup tie against Bristol Rovers, with a squad which he says is down to the “bare bones”. The Town manager is looking to add three more signings to his squad, while three probable starters are away on international duty and Andy Drury and one of his summer additions Elliott Hewitt are injured.

Jewell says Drury is suffering with the problem he picked up in the friendly at Southend, while Hewitt is still on the way back from the hip operations he underwent while with former club Macclesfield: “Andy Drury’s still got a calf problem and Elliott Hewitt’s out for a little while yet but he’s started to do some running which is a good sign.

“But we are stretched to the bare bones tomorrow evening - we’ve got to get a couple of new shirt numbers for the young players. The likes of Cormac Burke and Gunnar Thorsteinsson. It’ll be a young bench.”

The Blues manager says 16-year-old midfielder Byron Lawrence, who made his debut as a sub on the final day of last season, could make his first senior start: “He’s in with a chance of starting tomorrow. He’ll definitely be in the 18.

“I haven’t decided on the team yet. We’ll see how everybody is, we’ll have a bit of a roll call in the morning.”

Jewell says striker Nathan Ellington will also be in his squad with the team that starts likely to be as near to his best XI as is available for selection.

Damien Delaney is away with the Republic of Ireland squad, Ronan Murray with their U21s, while Josh Carson has been promoted to Northern Ireland’s senior side for their friendly with Finland in Belfast on Wednesday due to injuries, having initially been named in their U21s.

Meanwhile, prospective signing Cheick Kourouma is to be sent for a scan after picking up a leg injury in training this morning. The 20-year-old Frenchman's move to the Blues has been held up by red tape relating to his former clubs.

Adult tickets for Tuesday's game start at £12 and under-16s for £1, full details here.

Photo: Action Images

ipsuefa added 13:46 - Aug 13 Down to the 'bare bones' is a term usually heard at the back end of a season. Having players away for friendly games does seem stupid especially at this part of the season.
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idrinkbeer added 13:50 - Aug 13 Best of luck to young Josh Carson! Great news for him. COYB lets smash rovers as a real signal of intent for this season! Would love to see young Byron get his first start :)
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textbackup added 13:54 - Aug 13 if only we'd have just had a pre season to get in new players to boost the squad
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brockleyblueboy added 13:57 - Aug 13 2-0 town win. That is all
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beacon added 14:05 - Aug 13 I seem to remember PJ put a weakened side out in the first round last year and look what happened there . I understand he has players away at these ridiculously scheduled internationals . but hopefully he puts out his strongest availablt team and puts us all in good spirits for saturday. for what is sure to be a tough opener
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newburyblue added 14:09 - Aug 13 It might be bare bones but it won't be fair off our strongest XI. Loach; Edwards, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell; Luongo, Hyam; JET, Stevenson, Martin; Chopra. Bench will have ALB, Ainsley, Whight, Lawrence and Scotland which is a decent mix and if we also include Burke and Thorsteinsson in the squad it will be good experience for them. We're at home v Bristol Rovers in the League Cup - we should have enough to win with that team!

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ipswichboy123 added 14:09 - Aug 13 So we are down to the bare bone before we have even started not filling me with a lot of confidence. But onwards and upwards coyb.
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GenericIpswichMan added 14:13 - Aug 13 Not that we have a lot of choice but I'd like to see the new lads start with some of the fringe players. Good opportunity for the likes of Lawrence to stake a claim. Would also like to see Whight get a run out in this one also. And yes, friendlies at this stage of the season is gash, hasn't history taught us this enough times?
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alfromcol added 14:20 - Aug 13 A mistake was made last season putting out a weak team and losing badly against Northampton. Took weeks to get going after that showing. Lets have the best team starting and bring on fringe players when we are well ahead. We have to build a winning mentality. A couple of wins in this competition could then bring a money spinning tie against one of the big clubs
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TractorBoy666 added 14:20 - Aug 13 International games at this time of the season is awful. I mean the Olympics hasn't helped either but they could of scheduled these internationals a little later on. We should have a strong squad for tomorrow then which is good. I'm going to the game, so hopefully they'll perform.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 14:37 - Aug 13 We've had all summer and we still can't get it right! Clegg out.
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JewellintheTown added 14:45 - Aug 13 Right, hang on a mo, I'll get my boots. Give me a minute though I've just had my dinner.
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Bergholtblue added 14:53 - Aug 13 Bare bones? Of those named in the report above only Drury was in with a real chance of starting. Delaney is out of favour and seemingly on his way. Hewitt's injury we all knew about. Murray has yet to establish himself and Carson has been in and out of the side. So really we are only missing 2 first team players at the best and we are down to bare bones? Let's hope noone picks up an injury.

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mark1969 added 14:55 - Aug 13 So 17 players available if you discount Peters from the squad perhaps Clegg will be on the subs bench ? Lets hope none are injured before Blackburn .Reckon 3 new signings must be coming this week , i just hope we do not leave it too late and have to listen to the book of excuses . COYB
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 14:58 - Aug 13 What a ridiculous comment to make at the start of the season Jewell Only had the best part of 3 months to get a few players in and the day before we kick off your still giving fans the same old flannel about getting 3 players in pronto!!! Do you think we are that friggin thick in Suffolk? Why should anyone take you seriously you mug?
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BYRNE_16 added 14:58 - Aug 13 i will play if they are short
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Karlosfandangal added 15:01 - Aug 13 Jewell had a long list of target in Jan and he said they would be in by the start of pre season training. I am guessing that they have turn us down or not for sale so Jewell is looking for players that were not on his list
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Matthew_Crush added 15:07 - Aug 13 good chance for the youth though so hopefully we will see who can make the step up this season , COYB
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BoredWithThisNow added 15:14 - Aug 13 Get your finger out of your @rse and do something about it then Jewell. Jeez.
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WorcesterBlue added 15:37 - Aug 13 Bit worrying we keep being linked with Central Midfielders when surely there are other areas that need some thought (defence, goal, wide, up front?)
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PunchNoHopers added 15:40 - Aug 13 International games aside, the main reason is that we have dallied all pre-season on bringing in players to make our squad bigger and failed, and no one else is to blame but jewell and clegg! And why didn't we play the game on Saturday, like other teams who obviously didn't want a weakened team due to international call-ups!!
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runningout added 15:46 - Aug 13 no new face at CB, god help us.. dont think we should be looking at the prem for players that are not going to feature for their current club, for the reason most would have the wrong frame of mind, and think they have little to prove.. our scout/s need to pull their sock/s up and scour league one : /
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TR11BLU added 16:32 - Aug 13 This is laughable, talk about getting your excuses in early! So I have paid to see the second or third string get defeated by a league two team for the second season running. Not good enough PJ.
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scooterblue added 16:42 - Aug 13 Now Clegg's back from the olympic's perhap's we can start signing player's.
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RegencyBlue added 16:43 - Aug 13 If only we had just had 3 1/2 months to sort out new players for the coming season. Oh...!!!
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