Daryl Murphy, last season's 27-goal Championship top scorer, makes his first start of pre-season as the Blues face Peterborough United at London Road (KO 3pm).

Jonny Parr is back at left-back after his minor thigh problem in a full-strength Town back four.

Aside from Giles Coke starting in Cole Skuse’s central midfield role, the team isn’t too far aware from what McCarthy might see as his first XI.

Strikers Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman are missing, the latter presumably due to the foot knock he suffered at Cambridge. Sears was spotted watching the U18s beat Leyton Orient 2-0 in a friendly at Playford Road this morning. Former Blues midfielder Jack Collison starts for Posh.

Peterborough: Alnwick, Smith, Ntlhe, Santos, Zakuani, Bostwick (c), Collison, Maddison, Taylor, Washington, Gormley. Subs: Henry, J Anderson, Brisley, H Anderson, Newell, Fox, Sadlier, Angol, Adebayo-Rowling, Coulibaly, Oztumer.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Parr, Coke, Bishop, Maitland-Niles, Fraser, Murphy, McGoldrick. Subs: Bialkowski, Bru, Yowerth, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Ambrose, Skuse, Henshall, Stewart, Connolly, McDonnell, Benyu.

Photo: Action Images

Green_Army added 14:26 - Jul 25 On the downside Luke Garbutt has joined Fulham 😔
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GeorgeITFC24 added 14:30 - Jul 25 This looks like the side that could start on the opening day. Maybe Skuse instead of the trialist Coke
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oscarwhiting added 14:32 - Jul 25 why are pitman and sears not on the bench?
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Miles added 14:32 - Jul 25 No sears?
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AlexGreen added 14:34 - Jul 25 Where's Sears?
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rickw added 14:35 - Jul 25 Yeah strange why no mention of him and Stewart who seems on his way out is on the bench
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PhilTWTD added 14:56 - Jul 25 Sorry, missed that Sears was missing as well. Was at Playford Road watching U18s this morning, apparently. Probably minor niggle.
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Jimmy86 added 14:59 - Jul 25 Can't see Gerken starting the season in goal. Bart is the better keeper in my opinion. Yea he had a dip in form just after Xmas, but that went hand in hand with the team as a whole. Gerken doesn't command his area well enough, which is what causes mix ups between him and the back 4.
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GeorgeITFC24 added 15:01 - Jul 25 What about Tabb? Not complaining, but where is he!
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essextractorboy93 added 15:02 - Jul 25 Pretty strong starting line up. Skuse in for Coke and then it would be full strength but got to see what Coke can do, chance to impress!
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bedsitfc added 15:07 - Jul 25 Skuse for coke and pitman for mac
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Bluebongo added 15:45 - Jul 25 Anyone know the score.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:57 - Jul 25 Was 0 - 0 comming up to ht
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uefacup81 added 15:59 - Jul 25 I count 13 warming up at half time. Any word on any other possible trialists, Phil?
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parhamblue added 16:00 - Jul 25 I don't know where Peterborough got Adebayo-Rowling from, but maybe the e-bay link is a subtle hint, Phil, as to where the club can pick up the two specialist full backs?
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