Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that 18-year-old right-back Elliott Hewitt will start for the Blues for the first time in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Aston Villa. Striker Michael Chopra and keeper Scott Loach will also be in the starting XI.

McCarthy is keen to rest his regulars but says his options are limited with several players unavailable or moved on: “Chambo broke his nose in training but he’ll be OK. Tyrone Mings is cup-tied, Bradley Orr we can’t play because he’s on loan, Danny Higginbotham’s gone back, Hendo we can’t play because he’s on loan and DJ has gone back. Apart from that, I’ve got no problems at all."

Midfielder Andy Drury is still sidelined with a virus and definitely misses out, while recent signing Mings would have played had he not featured for Yate Town — the team he played for before he was with Chippenham — in the very early stages of the competition.

McCarthy says he’s confident Hewitt will cope against Premier League opposition, having played for his former club Macclesfield against then-top flight Bolton in the competition a year ago: “I’ve liked what I’ve seen in Elliott.

"Let’s see how he does. He trains well, he trains with the first team. He’s got a lot of ability but what he didn’t have when I came in was that experience, know-how and knowledge.”

New loan signing Patrick Kisnorbo is available and will be in the squad.

Photo: Action Images

Bluetone added 14:24 - Jan 3 “Chambo broke his nose in training but he'll be OK. Tyrone Mings is cup-tied, Bradley Orr we can't play because he's on loan, Danny Higginbotham's gone back, Hendo we can't play because he's on loan and DJ has gone back. Apart from that, I've got no problems at all." Good I'm glad there are no major problems.
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StuartBrett8 added 14:25 - Jan 3 I am desperate to know how Chambers broke his nose...
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JoshTheLad added 14:27 - Jan 3 @Stuart, probably Balotelli
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StuartBrett8 added 14:28 - Jan 3 Why always him?
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NoCanariesAllowed added 14:29 - Jan 3 What odds Chambers took a Carlos Edwards piledriver to the face... :) Great news for Hewitt - been a really frustrating season for him but here's hoping he can take his chance here with a good performance... as long as Villa don't get any ideas about him a la Cresswell...!
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StuartBrett8 added 14:30 - Jan 3 Or long range smash from N'daw :)
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dirtyboy added 14:32 - Jan 3 It's not been a frustrating season at all for Hewitt, he had operations on his hip during the summer, I suspect he's chuffed to bits to be breaking into the first team so soon.
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PhilTWTD added 14:40 - Jan 3 It was a cross from Cresswell and a clash of heads, according to Big Mick.
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StuartBrett8 added 14:41 - Jan 3 Ah right, cheers Phil :)
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afrodids added 14:47 - Jan 3 Good luck Elliott.
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martleshamitfc added 15:48 - Jan 3 Just hope Hyam plays!
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Ipswichbusiness added 15:49 - Jan 3 If Chambers has broken his nose then I suppose that Kisnorbo will start (no point in taking any risks). If Hewitt lacks expereince then there is one way to solve that problem; play him!
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Marcus added 16:37 - Jan 3 Kisnorbo is a loan player and it's unlikely he'll be allowed to play.
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warbeat78 added 17:08 - Jan 3 @ Marcus Kisnorbo is available &in the squad MM say so
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EatonBlue added 17:27 - Jan 3 I am a bit surprised that MMc is revealing the team selection so far in advance unless it's some kind of double bluff. I had expected Carlos to drop back to his old position with JET coming into the midfield.
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warbeat78 added 17:34 - Jan 3 Think carlos might make way for jet sometime on saturday, just have a feeling MM. Going to mix it up slightly .
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M4rkyboy1 added 18:54 - Jan 3 Someone please tell me where Kourouma has got to! Haven't heard of him since the end of the transfer window, have I missed something?
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Grimsbyblue added 19:02 - Jan 3 @M4rkyboy1 He was released a while ago
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M4rkyboy1 added 19:04 - Jan 3 @Grimsbyblue. Cheers, I missed that news completely. :P
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coyb99 added 20:47 - Jan 3 I wonder if chambers was training with man city today and got involved in the brawl between mancini and balotelli.
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Lightningboy added 22:33 - Jan 3 Good for Hewitt..hope he has a blinder and makes the RB spot his own.
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Garv added 23:45 - Jan 3 Loach Hewitt Chambers Smith Cresswell JET N'Daw Hyam Martin Murphy Chopra
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Ipswich24 added 09:22 - Jan 4 Really looking forward to seeing Hewitt play, we dont need Orr we need a young energetic full back who can get forward and defend.
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