Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll field a strong line-up when the Blues face Vanarama National League leaders Lincoln City in tomorrow’s FA Cup third round replay at Sincil Bank, however, left-back Myles Kenlock has been ruled out for another three weeks with the calf injury he suffered at QPR recently.

Asked whether he was going to name a full-strength side against the Imps, who drew 2-2 at Portman Road earlier this month, McCarthy said: “I am, there’s no question about it, I’m not going there [and fielding a weakened side]. You’ve seen the full strength squad we’ve got anyway.

“I might make a couple of changes but it’ll still be [a strong team]. I’ve got Wardy, I’ve got Dougie, I’ve got Leon Best to play, I’m not playing kids.”

The Town boss confirmed that he would again start with Dean Gerken in goal, as he did in the first match, with Bartosz Bialkowski dropping to the bench.

McCarthy will still be without strikers David McGoldrick (hamstring) and Brett Pitman (calf) but the pair aren’t too far from a return.

“Pits should be Huddersfield, Didz is more likely to be Preston, he’s going to be three weeks from when he did it, so he’s not going to be back this weekend,” he added.

Skipper Luke Chambers and linchpin midfielder Cole Skuse both missed the Portman Road tie but returned to action on Saturday and are set to start at Sincil Bank, but left-back Kenlock remains sidelined.

“He’ll be another three weeks, so my substitution at QPR wasn’t such a bad one,” McCarthy reflected.

“He was great, he was close to nicking that shirt, I think Jonas Knudsen knows that. There’s no happier person in the building at the minute that Myles Kenlock’s injured than Jonas because he did great, I left him in and he played well.

“Strangely enough, there was a good response from Jonas at the weekend, he was great, but he’s been the same all year. He’s a really solid player for us, Jonas.”

New signing Kieffer Moore is unavailable as he is cup-tied having come on as a sub for Forest Green Rovers in their 2-1 fourth qualifying round victory at Sutton in October. Even if he hadn’t played in that game he would have been ineligible having not been registered to Town for the first tie.

McCarthy says Teddy Bishop is closing in a return to training after his ankle injury, as are Luke Hyam (knee) and Tommy Smith (back) after surgery.

“Bish will be training on Thursday, so he’s making progress,” the Town boss continued. “Luke Hyam will hopefully be training and playing in an U23s game at the beginning of February, a couple of weeks away, the same with Tommy Smith as well.”

The only other players sidelined at present are midfielders Jonny Williams (shoulder) and Giles Coke (knee), who both underwent surgery towards the end of last year.

Photo: TWTD

phil1982 added 14:26 - Jan 16 and Johnny Williams?
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NoCanariesAllowed added 14:28 - Jan 16 Kenlock will be "another three weeks, so my substitution at QPR wasn't such a bad one,” says Mick. I appreciate he wants to fight his corner against his critics, particularly when it was blatantly obvious in that instance that a lot of fans hadn't seen Kenlock was injured. But if Mick does want to mend bridges with the fans (which already are beyond repair with some), he really could do with toning it down on this "see, I was right" stuff. Let results tell people you were right, Mick. Not a glib remark here and there.

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Cookycrew added 14:45 - Jan 16 It's good news that we'll put out a strong team. We looked really good for most of Saturday. Please again play Chambers at CB - he was outstanding on Saturday.
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iaintaylorx added 14:46 - Jan 16 Please do not start "different class Douglas", please!? We're on TV to the nation and I don't want to be more embarrassed with him in the team. Keep Bru and Skuse in the middle!
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ArnieM added 14:58 - Jan 16 "Knudsen has been solid ", er, when?
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Smithy added 15:03 - Jan 16 8 out, bar Coke all possible first team players as well. Anyone would struggle with this number out, just hope the fact that maybe as Micks hand has been forced he starts to realise that the players he has can in fact play a bit of football. Saturday was enjoyable for a change long may it continue. A real shame that Kenlock is out as he was looking a real player, hopefully he can come back flying and push hard for that spot again. Will be great to have Bishop, McGoldrick and Smith back soon, and Hyam's energy and determination can rub off on others. Kenlock Smith Bishop Coke Hyam Williams Pitman McGoldrick

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battyblue added 15:03 - Jan 16 Here comes the crap out of (I CANT HELP MYSELF McCarthys mouth) again Jonas has been different class all season hasn't he,i give up.
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Miles added 15:13 - Jan 16 What is actually wrong with Mick giving Jonas praise? If anything it gives him confidence which is something we are severely lacking at present! Would you actually rather he came it and said "Myles Kenlock has been great and Jonas has been useless so we're in trouble now" He's given both his left backs compliments and it's far better than being critical in public. Man management is a big thing in sport!

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TR11BLU added 15:15 - Jan 16 Just do one Dino
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Kikapu added 15:18 - Jan 16 Well at least he doesn't tweet his comments against fans - Trump style - NoCanariesAllowed.
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12th_Man added 15:23 - Jan 16 Gerken in goal not good start to fielding strong side
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TrueBlue1998 added 15:47 - Jan 16 I actually think a bit of experience in there for this one might not be a bad thing
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tractorshark added 15:52 - Jan 16 Knudsen played well on Saturday because Kenlock had nicked his shirt. Shows what healthy competition can do. Don't understand why McCarthy threw the "my sub was right" comment. You know our sensitive fans will get the hump with that. Besides which the Douglas instead of Dozzell sub didn't exactly work.
9

brazil1982 added 15:52 - Jan 16 2-1 Town win.
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:52 - Jan 16 with so many different class players in the team ,I can only assume with our form that they are all in a different class from each other, there lies the problem .Anyway lets hope tomorrow we can get it all together and be a ''positive'' different class to Lincoln.Anything less will be embarrassing coyb lets do it .
2

bluelady added 15:59 - Jan 16 so those slating Knudsen - what is MM meant to do, yes tell the world how awful his players are, slate them in public that will really help moral wont it! I don't doubt behind closed doors he lets players know when they have and haven't done well, but supporting them in public is admirable. I am not a Knudsen fan and by know means Mick in whatever person, I am just pragmatic. we have the manager we have, he has the team he has and he is supporting them so for that I commend him.

12

SheptonMalletBlue added 16:19 - Jan 16 Just go from our club Mccarthy, you're a 19th Century manager, sick of reading you're drivel!!!!!
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itfcbam added 17:48 - Jan 16 Really, some of you I cant understand, you can't be managers in your field. Critise a manager for publicly backing his only fit left back. Really? He might be saying different to him behind closed doors but he HAS to back him as any good manager should do. Would you be able to perform at your best, with confidence, if you had been publicly slated?
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gcasselton1 added 17:50 - Jan 16 I'm all for good man management but when a player isn't good enough don't play them it's as simple as that. Knudsen is awful, sign another left back immediately, literally anyone.
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Stato added 17:53 - Jan 16 I know you got loads of ticks Miles but I couldn't disagree with you more. The problem is that mick goes too far with his compliments and talks himself into a corner. He should be more measured with his compliments especially the fringe players as actually too many of his 'favourites' have looked complacent and many of us have wondered when stubborn mick was every going to drop them. There are loads of examples but Bart is the one that always frustrated me the most.

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Wickets added 18:19 - Jan 16 Most knew Kenlock was struggling, the moans where Douglas on instead of Dozzell and it was right 'cos it did not work. If you start playing Douglas in league matches again i'm sure we will moan again and be right again.
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RRanger added 18:20 - Jan 16 I thought Jonas had a decent game on Saturday and can't find him at fault for either of our goals. I would prefer Kenlock when he is fit but the people on this site that just stick to their default position about players however they have just played really get my goat. They accuse MM of having his favourites (as I suspect most managers do) but then as often as not these same people have their favourites ie Sears whose goal return this season is pretty awful and on Saturday wouldn't have hit a barn door . Now I like Freddie and he gives his all but that doesn't mean I think he is wonderful every week. MM is supposed to have ruined him by asking him to play out wide but he's had plenty of chances to score most games and basically has been missing good chances virtually every match. I just wish people were more objective.

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carsey added 18:36 - Jan 16 Should start the same team in the same set up as vs Blackburn on Saturday. That is the way to go and they need to practice. Regarding the Kenlock sub at QPR remark clearly he was injured but he chose the wrong replacement and McCarthy knows it.
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itfchorry added 19:34 - Jan 16 This will be your second chance to best a Non Leauge Team McCarthy. I as 80% of fans don't want you - Lose tomorrow and do the honourable thing - Let's get our once great club back up and running again - Cue - geminimustang /Pragmatic
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Umros added 20:50 - Jan 16 From that the line ' Didz back for Preston' is for the over analysts, Mick not confident of a fourth round fixture then?!!!!
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