Blues boss Paul Jewell says one or two younger members of his squad could get their chance before the end of the season, but that they’ll have to earn that opportunity just like anyone else. The Town manager won’t be making wholesale changes to his side with the Blues still in with an outside shout of making the play-offs.
Jewell said: "If we win seven games we might get in the play-offs. It’s not impossible. But between now and the end of the season we will have a look at a few different players and no doubt a couple of the young ones will come in. That isn’t in question.
"What people don’t really understand is the players’ desire, it hurts them when they don’t play and I want that. I don’t want people just happy to have a rest. OK, they have to accept it and we don’t want people sulking because over 46 games we have to [give people a rest at times].
"I’m aware that people who are in the team don’t want to be out of the team, but I think between now and the end of the season there will be one or two surprises or one or two lads will go in to see how they can handle the big stage.”
Left-back Joe Whight, who was an unused sub on a few occasions at the end of the last season, could be one player to get a run-out, along with his fellow second-year scholar, Callum Bennett. The right-back recently joined Whight in being offered a professional contract.
Schoolboy midfielder Byron Lawrence, 16, was included as a sub for the Carling Cup tie against Northampton early in the season and might be another who gets his chance.
American keeper Cody Cropper has only just returned from injury but could well be included as a sub keeper at some stage before the end of the campaign.
The likes of Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Jack Ainsley will be hoping to add to their senior appearances.
But Jewell warns that they will have to show they’re worth that opportunity: "We’re not just going to give people a game because they’re young. To put an Ipswich Town shirt on you’ve got to earn that right.”
The Liverpudlian says that despite the season probably being over from a competitive perspective, there’ll not be any slacking: "We prepare for this game like we do every game. We want to win it, we want to be positive and we’re aware that people pay good money to watch us and we intend to give our best whatever stage of the season it is.
"We want a good atmosphere and we’ve got to generate that on the pitch. It’s no good people turning up and us not giving them something to shout about.”