Town will be without keeper Dean Gerken, striker Daryl Murphy and centre-half Tommy Smith when they face Preston in the FA Cup at Portman Road on Saturday. Manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Scott Loach will start in goal, along with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, skipper Carlos Edwards and Anthony Wordsworth.

McCarthy says Gerken has been suffering with a minor strain for a few matches: “Dean Gerken has been feeling his groin for a couple of games now, he managed to get through the other night, but he won’t start. I would have started Loachy anyway because he needs to play.

“Tommy Smith has got a sore back, they’ve both been having treatment, and Murph got a thigh strain on Wednesday. Late on, when Dids put him through and he had that good effort with his left foot, he felt it straight away.

“So, there are three enforced changes. Murph would miss anyway but if it was QPR in the league and we’d got a week’s rest, I’d be jollying them along and they’d be playing, I’m sure. Murph, not so, but the other two it’s important that they’re fit for next week.

“Gerks and Tommy will be fine [for next week], they’ve been playing regularly. Murph is going for a scan today and we’ll see the results of that.”

With Smith missing, Luke Chambers looks set to move the centre of the defence with Edwards likely to come in at right-back.

McCarthy confirmed that Stephen Hunt, who is back from his hamstring injury, will also be in the squad, along with youngsters Kyle Hammond and Michael Crowe, who will be the sub keeper.

Photo: Action Images

Blu added 14:13 - Jan 3 "Manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Scott Loach will start in goal, along with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, skipper Carlos Edwards and Anthony Wordsworth." Its going to be a crowded goal mouth.
23

arc added 14:14 - Jan 3 Play Hammond at RB.
3

jonnieb57 added 14:19 - Jan 3 I agree ARC I would like to see KH in the team
2

rhybeaniho added 14:44 - Jan 3 McGoldrick and Ebanks-Blake to start?
3

ericclacton added 14:48 - Jan 3 Pressed On are quite a good team underestimate them we are out of the cup. I Thankyou.
2

RetroBlue added 14:49 - Jan 3 Playing the reserves it is then.
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slowerball added 14:51 - Jan 3 McGoldrick and Ebanks-Blake... I'm sure the PNE centre halfs are looking forward to that combination and so am I. Precautionary changes, sensible use of the squad, Edwards and Wordsworth will be nice and fresh. And I hope Hunt plays some part in the game too.
6

brian_a_mul added 14:59 - Jan 3 Looks like 4-3-3 Loach- Hammond, Berra, Chambers, Mings- Tabb, Hyam, Woody- Edwards, Dids, Hunt Will be interesting to see the team, should be an interesting game with some of our fringe players really needing to put in a good performance!
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Stadiumofdark added 15:18 - Jan 3 I've been feeling my groin a fair bit during our unbeaten run....
5

ITFCGloryDays added 15:30 - Jan 3 But I reckon it'll be; Loach - Edwards, Berra, Chambers, Mings - Tabb, Tunnicliffe, Wordsworth - McGoldrick, SEB, Hunt I would personally play Hammond instead of Edwards but hey...
0

MCGOODERZ added 15:38 - Jan 3 I'd play Taylor for 60 minutes again
0

Garv added 15:47 - Jan 3 Loach Edwards Chambers Berra Cresswell Taylor Hyam Wordsworth Hunt Mcgoldrick Ebanks-Blake
2

bluemingood added 16:12 - Jan 3 Taylor for 90 mins. SEB for 60.
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alexsmith111 added 16:15 - Jan 3 Couldn't give a duff, parential guidance friendly! About cup. I personally thing all 11 should be fresh and potentials wanting a place in the league starting 11. I would rather a hungry set of lads lose this who are up and coming apposed to "duffing" our starters
0

Stretchyboy added 16:23 - Jan 3 Alexsmith 111 .......Any chance of an English translation please??
6

happybeingblue added 16:26 - Jan 3 A week after xmas most people are probably spent out versus a lge 1 team...why the hell didnt they reduce it to £8 or similar to try and get more punters in we will be lucky to get 9.000 tomorrow, people running the club are still out of touch with average family £ around these parts, still if they are happy playin in front of a ground a third full ...heyho even millwall done their home game last week for a £5...

2

alexsmith111 added 16:42 - Jan 3 Think not thing, the rest was explained. Sorry it was so testing!
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alexsmith111 added 16:43 - Jan 3 Or do you need the parential guidance lift!
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thebeat added 17:55 - Jan 3 Loach Hammond Chambers Mings Cresswell Edwards Hyam Wordsworth Hunt Taylor SEB
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Guthrum added 18:34 - Jan 3 That's still a reasonably strong team, leavened with a couple of our more promising youngsters.
1

jas0999 added 19:26 - Jan 3 Interesting! I bet if it was QPR tomorrow all three would play. Got to love Mick!
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Ipswich121 added 23:44 - Jan 3 I think you lot are a bit optimistic about mcgoldrick a chances of playing, I don't think mcgoldrick will risk him,as we will definitely need him against QPR. I would go for 4-3-3 tomorrow Loach Hammond chambers berra Mings Hyam Wordsworth Lawrence Taylor SEB Nouble Although I don't expect Hammond to play I think with Edwards instead of him and not sure if he will play Lawrence

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Ipswich121 added 23:45 - Jan 3 Oops *i don't think McCarthy will risk him
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