Town boss Mick McCarthy says central defender Tommy Smith took his decision to leave him out of the starting XI for Saturday’s season opener against Barnsley like “the ultimate pro”. Smith, 26, has been a regular throughout McCarthy’s time at Portman Road but missed out with the naturally right-sided Adam Webster having been brought in from Portsmouth over the summer.

The Blues manager admits it was a very tough to decide which of his left-footed centre-halves to omit with Christophe Berra ultimately getting the nod.

“Maybe a toss of a coin, Christophe played with Webster in the first half of the Royale Union Saint-Gilloise game and played well,” McCarthy said.

“It was almost a toss-up, not quite. It was a really tough call, one which I had to make. I’d been wanting a right-sided centre-back, I actually told the lads that the back four would be the same because I thought Adam wouldn’t be fit.

“But he was fit and I think he’ll ultimately make a difference to us. I think he’s impressed everybody since he’s come in.”

He says Smith, who recently signed a new three-year contract at Town, will be champing at the bit ahead of tonight’s EFL Cup tie against Stevenage: “Absolutely. There’s Diggers as well, who is also playing.

“There are three real tried and tested centre-backs there, who have played a lot in the leagues now.

“And it could be any of the two of them. Adam, he’s seeing a difference already with the pace of the league and how it’s played. He might not play all the games and I know I can play Tommy and Bez.

“I’ve got options, it would be worse if I’d only got two of them. It’s not easy making the decision, but what was really good was Tommy Smith made my conversation with him pretty easy because he accepted it and he knows he’ll get his chance, he knows he’ll play throughout the season.

“He was the ultimate pro, came in ready to play on Saturday and he’ll be ready to play on Tuesday.”

McCarthy says naming a strong defence - he has confirmed that skipper Luke Chambers will be at right-back and Jonas Knudsen on the left - will benefit the fringe players coming into the side.

“I really want to play Tommy, he was always going to play having left him out on Saturday,” he added.

“And Diggers, that’s the back four that played at Middlesbrough, so they’re no mugs, that’s for sure, having recorded a clean sheet up there.

“Whatever changes I’ve made in front, I think it gives them a solid base from which to play because sometimes I’ve changed everything and there’s no base to start with.

“Some players come in and it’s an unfair playing field for them. They’re coming in and are playing without a solid base.

“Well, anybody in front of them, Conor Grant, Doz, Grant Ward coming in to play, at least they’ve got a really solid base behind them from which to play.”

McCarthy expects those players who are coming into the team this evening, such as Andre Dozzell and Paul Digby, will have parts to play in the Championship over the course of the season.

“They will be because currently we’ve got 20 in the squad,” he said. “I’m adding them up in terms of players I’ve got available to me that you can say are first-team players.

“And then there are some on the periphery, who have had a few games like Doz, Adam McDonnell, James Blanchfield and Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock, who have had bit parts but not those that have had a hundred games.

“You could even include Conor Grant in that and Grant Ward. Grant had a great season last year at Rotherham but has not got that vast experience.

“So, all the ones who are playing and some of them that aren’t need to be ready to go because we’re going to need them.”

This evening’s bench is likely to feature players such as Emmanuel, Kenlock, Ben Morris and Joe Robinson, who like Dozzell have come through the academy.

McCarthy says Bryan Klug and his staff are doing an excellent job: “From recruitment to coaching them, all the staff that they work with, whatever age groups they are.

“It’s great because most of them have been involved with the club for a long time and, as we’ve seen, Mark Kennedy’s left so Gerard Nash has stepped up to the U21s, Chris Hogg has moved up [to work with Alan Lee coaching the U18s], Duncan Wheeler’s moved up.

“It’s nice to see them progressing through the ranks. And I do believe in promoting from within because they come here and do the U8s and U9s and U10s, that’s not quite cutting your teeth with the first team.

“I think it’s great that they can all progress through the club. As we say now, they have a career path, as I think they call it.”

Photo: Action Images

muccletonjoe added 06:43 - Aug 9 Berra played well saturday. But i think tommy will come back into the reckoning
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Len_Brennan added 07:41 - Aug 9 A lot of what Mick is saying here is exactly what many have argued over the last few years. I don't want to be particularly critical at a time when he seems to be getting a better balance to the side, & I'm certainly not in the "Mick out he's a dinosaur" camp, but his comments here are somewhat annoying. If you replace his argument for including Webster with the name Chambers & go back 2+ years, it's exactly the argument many of us were making then for keeping an established Championship quality right-sided centre half in that position. Our requirement has been the signing of a genuine right full back, who is less likely to be consistently skinned when up against a good left winger. He has rejected that notion for over 2 years & plenty of posters have told those of us who kept saying that the balance is wrong that we were moaners & not real fans for simply making that point -I'm looking at you Bohslegend. The other thing that got me in this article was Mick's correct analysis that having a good established base around them will help new players coming into the side & therefore he has picked Chambers & Knudsen tonight, & too a lesser extent Smith & Gerken. Mick's treatment of Malarczyk last season was absolutely shocking by way of this metric. The lad does not seem up to the level, I can accept that, & perhaps his attitude in training was a factor, but when he did come in to play in the league cup, he was surrounded by a team of reserves, made mistakes alongside players he had built up no understanding with & was immediately cast off as worthless. Perhaps had he been given a chance in a side like Digby is tonight, notwithstanding my views on Chambo at RB, he might have played far better & not had his confidence destroyed. To finish on a positive, it is encouraging that we are (finally) seeing progess in terms of balance & Webster looks a real prospect who will only get better alongside experienced defenders such as Berra & Smith as he plays regularly.

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Slambo added 08:27 - Aug 9 Er, my friend plays netball with his wife and apparently he took it like anything but an 'ultimate pro'...
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Portman51 added 09:56 - Aug 9 "McCarthy says naming a strong defence - he has confirmed that skipper Luke Chambers will be at right-back..." Hard not to laugh really. Chambo got his account for the season off to a good start on Saturday by getting skinned for the cross that led to the first Barnsley goal. But it's not his fault he's being played out of position, any more than it's Bishop's in right midfield or Sears' on the left wing. Or Smith's when he played RCB. Stubborn b******.

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onthehoof added 10:08 - Aug 9 Pleased with the positive start to the season (OK one match so far) but our defence still requires attention. Although we got a great result we did let in 2 goals. OK MM will mix it up for Stevenage tonight but I wish he would play kenlock, knudesen or Emmanual and drop Chambers from that role. Of course this would leave competition between Webster (less so for him), Smith, Berra, Chambers and DIgby. Preferred back would be Kenlock Smith Webster Emmanuel.

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whosroundisitanyway added 12:16 - Aug 9 Slambo Is your friend a Sun journalist? ;-}
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Penguinblue added 14:43 - Aug 9 You are being very polite Len. I am in the McCarthy out camp and notwithstanding Saturday's win I am not impressed by the absolute bilge McCarthy speaks - so ironic that he is now actually coming round to things some supporters have been saying for over 2 years. But the man is disingenuous and only has one plan - his favourites will always return to hoof the ball. Every time he sends Chambers out as right back - amazingly accepted by many supporters - he shows how limited he is as a 'manager'

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Seasider added 15:42 - Aug 9 Len Brennan I agree with you about Malarcyk,and also Stewart;but as the Manager he decides these things not us,and he might see things that we don't as he is with the players all the time. I agree Pengiun Blue that he appears to be coming round to doing things the supporters have been asking for,such as less 'hoof'and more pass and move;more younger players,paying fees for players and now picking a decent side for a cup game bearing in mind the opposition,which a lot of clubs do. I don't know how much it is to do with the falling attendances etc;but it is very welcome nevertheless.

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Seasider added 15:46 - Aug 9 It is also heartening that his list of 'favourites,is dimishing;think its now only Chambo. Wonder how he would take to being'rested'.Will we ever find out I wonder,or will he still be playing every game this season as in the past.
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essex57 added 16:45 - Aug 9 Blimey penguin blue are you really in the Mccarthy out gang!!!
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essex57 added 16:45 - Aug 9 Blimey penguin blue are you really in the Mccarthy out gang!!!
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essex57 added 16:50 - Aug 9 Imo there was very little long ball sat and when it was the ball was passed straight to a blue shirt so come on penquin give it a rest.
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ChestnutSe added 19:47 - Aug 9 Yes, Mick always plays his favourites. Where was Tabby on Saturday? Why won't he just play the best players?
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