Jonny Williams will make his return from the ankle injury which has so far prevented him from making his fourth Town debut when the U23s take on Liverpool in the Premier League Cup at Portman Road on Sunday afternoon (KO 1pm).

Wales international Williams rejoined the Blues on loan from Crystal Palace on deadline day with an ankle injury he suffered in pre-season.

“He will play on Sunday against Liverpool at Portman Road and then we’re trying to get a game on the Wednesday, so if we do and he’s OK and he can compete in both of them, play in both then he’ll be all right for the Blackburn game,” manager Mick McCarthy said.

“Sunday’s game will be a nice competitive fixture for him and, of course, there’ll be the others who haven’t been playing as well that we can get into the team.”

Trialist right-back Jordan Spence could also play having impressed in last Monday's 2-1 U23s defeat at Bolton, McCarthy says: “I’m going to speak to him, we’ve a game on Sunday and he may well be involved in that.

“I haven’t seen the game, but he played very well at Bolton, very well apparently. They played wing-backs and he was one of them and he did well. He’ll be here for the rest of this week and we’ll see.”

Free agent Spence, 26, was released by the MK Dons in the summer having joined them initially on loan in 2013 from West Ham where he came through the youth ranks.

While with the Hammers the Londoner also had spells on loan at Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe, Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday.

Spence, who is 5ft 11in tall, was capped by England at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels.

Liverpool's side is set to include French international defender Mamadou Sakho.

Admission to the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand costs £5 for adults (£3 for season ticket holders) and £3 for over-60s, students, the under-20s and under-16s.

The Premier League Cup, which replaces the U21 Premier League Cup, emulates the format of the Champions League with 32 teams involved in the group stage and the top two in each going through to the last 16.

From there the ties will be one-off, knockout games with extra-time and penalties if required.

In addition to the Reds, the Blues will face Huddersfield and West Brom home and away in their group with the knockout phase starting in mid-March and the final in mid-May.

Meanwhile, Town’s U18s were beaten 4-3 at Charlton this morning, having been reduced to 10 men after Ellis Murrell was red-carded.

Photo: ITFC

Smithy added 21:20 - Oct 1 don't play too many forward passes Johnny or you will have intensive training to get this out of you.
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Mark added 21:58 - Oct 1 We desperately need Williams back, but it doesn't feel good to be reliant on the return of an injury-prone loan player. As for Spence, bring him in as cover by all means so long as it does not hinder Emmanuel's development.
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Daleyitfc added 22:49 - Oct 1 Another fragile little flower who may give us 20 minutes at some point. Waste of time and space.
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Daz added 03:05 - Oct 2 Emmanuel is doing well but the season is long if he kept a place. spence would be good cover but mick will prob go back to the norm back 4.
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HarryS_H added 11:58 - Oct 2 Why are we so negative about Williams?? The only reason he's injured is because he's a very good player and targeted by defenders who don't have the ability to stop him within the rules of the game. He isn't injury prone he's a threat and as soon as he starts getting protection from the referee he can play the rest of the season no problem. We're very luck to have him!

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