Armando Dobra comes into the team for his full league debut and Jon Nolan, Aaron Drinan, Jack Lankester and Mark McGuinness return to the line-up as Blues boss Paul Lambert makes five changes for this evening’s game at Oxford.

McGuinness joins Luke Woolfenden at the heart of the defence with skipper Luke Chambers at right-back and Stephen Ward on the left.

In midfield, Andre Dozzell takes up his usual deeper role with Lankester and Nolan, back after a groin injury, ahead of him.

Drinan, making his first start since the opening day of the league season, is the central striker with Dobra, who has previously made four league appearances as a sub, probably on the right and Keanan Bennetts on the left.

James Norwood and Toto Nsiala both suffered injuries in Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Charlton, while Alan Judge and Liam Gibbs drop to the bench and Brett McGavin is missing from the 18.

Oxford make two changes from the team which lost 2-1 to Swindon at the weekend with Jack Stevens taking over in goal from Simon Eastwood, who drops to the bench, while Olamide Shodipo replaces Jordan Obita, who is also among the subs.

Oxford: Stevens, Ruffels, Moore, Gorrin, Taylor, Long, Henry, McGuane, Atkinson, Shodipo, Kelly. Subs: Eastwood, Clare, Hall, Forde, Mousinho, Agyei, Obita.

Town: Cornell, Chambers, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Nolan, Lankester, Dobra, Bennetts, Drinan. Subs: Holy, Donacien, Kenlock, Judge, Jackson, Hawkins, Gibbs. Referee: Bobby Madley (West Yorkshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

BlueySwede added 18:34 - Dec 1 Not a bad team, but a lot of changes again..it´s no wonder that we have looked like a bunch of strangers too many times this season (and last).
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BlueySwede added 18:35 - Dec 1 Also, McGavin has done nothing wrong, if not injured I think it´s massively unfair that he is withdrawn.
4

chopra777 added 18:36 - Dec 1 Game on. Come on you blues. A fresh approach from Lambert.
4

dirtydingusmagee added 18:40 - Dec 1 lets hope we dont concede early , this is not going to be an easy night .
1

ForrestsFingers added 18:40 - Dec 1 Really hoping that this is a 4-2-3-1. Dozzell & Nolan in the centre of midfield, with Bennetts, & Lancaster playing as inside forwards with Dobra linking with Drinan up top.
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:40 - Dec 1 You sure you're allowed to print this Phil?....
8

Dockerblue added 18:42 - Dec 1 Good enough team to win this game, take the game to Oxford, high press etc. About time Judge was dropped.
6

WirralBlue added 18:43 - Dec 1 This looks a far better balanced side to me. Hope I'm priced correct
1

WirralBlue added 18:46 - Dec 1 This looks a far better balanced side to me. Hope I'm proved correct
3

Blueballs83 added 18:49 - Dec 1 Much more of a promising selection compared to recent games! And Dobra in, Judge out! Decent attacking line up!!
1

Mariner1974 added 18:49 - Dec 1 Wasn't going to watch tonight if Judge was on the pitch as I've been swearing at the TV too much in recent times, but once I saw Dobra was in and Nolan was back to play alongside Dozzell with Lankester, I suddenly got all excited again. Funny how football can do that...let's hope the kids/ young lads/ the one's we wanted to see playing make a good show of themselves tonight and come away with the win.

2

OwainG1992 added 18:51 - Dec 1 Should get the win here. If the lads do so please stick with this 11.
2

Linkboy13 added 18:52 - Dec 1 Yes dissapointed that Mcgavin is not involved tonight but it might be being a young player could be that he just needs a rest. Young Gibbs is another bright prospect but looked a bit lightweight on Saturday and when he is physically ready a loan spell somewhere might do him good.
1

blue_enough added 18:54 - Dec 1 Hallelujah - Judge finally dropped! I hate to say it, but are others hoping for a result that will see Lambert removed ASAP?
-5

Skip73 added 18:55 - Dec 1 One up front again. Dear oh Dear.
2

dunkleberrydog added 18:56 - Dec 1 @mariner...made me laugh. So true...
1

bernie added 18:59 - Dec 1 Come on the blues !! But not confident, I'm am one that thinks Lamberts time as come . But come on town
0

ChestnutSe added 19:07 - Dec 1 Looks like a team with a goal threat
0

Suffolkboy added 19:08 - Dec 1 It's such a shame we, the supporters wherever we are, do not get an ‘interested ‘ explanation / commentary from PL ,giving us a line of thought on his approach and thinking .it seems he feels very secretive/ uncertain of how he will come over and is seeking slowly a way forward and confidence ! As to P H it seems to me PL has to be big enough to bury the hatchet and get one and all back on track !!Come on PL give us something to love , please ! COYB PS very interesting Guardian article on ITFC today !

1

rickw added 19:11 - Dec 1 That's about as good a team as we can pick at the moment. I'm not sure how compatible McGavin and Dozzell are in the same team - perhaps why he's been dropped/rested, or maybe it's just to get some experience in there
1

runningout added 19:59 - Dec 1 Nolan and Bennetts do nothing. Kenlock wasting space on bench. Time to be harsh as players should be stepping up or telling why they aren't!! Zero shots on target is embarrassing and doesn't take a brain surgeon to realise we create Jack S...
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