Gerken and Berra to Make Debuts at Stevenage
Monday, 5th Aug 2013 14:42

Mick McCarthy has confirmed that keeper Dean Gerken and centre-half Christophe Berra will make their Town debuts in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Stevenage. The Town boss will name a much-changed side with left-backs Aaron Cresswell and Tyrone Mings both unavailable.

McCarthy says Berra will be in the line-up at Broadhall Way: “He’s starting tomorrow. It’s an opportunity for him.

“Christophe is great, he played here in the U21s the other day against Colchester and but for him in the team it would have been a really tough afternoon. He’s fine, he understands that the two lads were terrific and he’s starting.”

While confirming that Gerken will also be in the side, McCarthy wouldn’t reveal any more about his line-up: “Yes, he’ll start, but if you ask me about anybody else I won’t tell you!”

The Town manager is hoping that first choice left-back Aaron Cresswell will be OK for the weekend but says he won’t be involved at Stevenage: “No, no chance for tomorrow, I’m hoping that he’ll train on Thursday, train Friday and be available for the Millwall game on Saturday."

Also missing will be Tyrone Mings, who underwent an MRI scan earlier today: “Tyrone won’t be available either, he’ll be out for two weeks at least, I would have thought.

"He opened up his medial ligament and it was remarkable that he actually played for 76 minutes with the injury. It was a really great performance from him.”

Their absence could see 18-year-old David October make his debut, or alternatively Tommy Smith could move across to left-back with Berra coming into the side.

McCarthy wouldn’t say one way or the other: “I could tell you, but I’m not going to. You all know the options, pick and choose what you think I’ll do.”

Midfielder Anthony Wordsworth will also miss out due to the calf injury which saw him subbed within minutes of taking to the field at Notts County: “He’s doing a bit more training but he’s not ready for it, he’s not fit.

“Other than that, there’s just Jack Doherty [ankle], who is not really in the first team squad yet. I think that’s the sum total.”

On-loan Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe isn't available to play for Town in the Capital One Cup.

In addition to October, the likes of Frederic Veseli, Kyle Hammond and Amir Berkane will be hoping to make their first senior starts and McCarthy confirmed that it will be a much-changed team from the one which lined-up at Reading on Saturday

“There will be changes,” he said. “But I told them that beforehand. About half a dozen players that haven’t played will play.”

Photo: Action Images

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