French-Guinean midfielder Cheick Kourouma has been named in the squad for Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Luton Town (KO 3pm). The former Sochaux, Real Zaragoza and Genoa man, who celebrates his 20th birthday today, has agreed a contract with the Blues but has so far been unable to put pen to paper due to red tape relating to his former clubs.
Kourouma impressed in what was effectively a reserves friendly at Braintree on Tuesday, leading to his elevation to the senior squad.
Jimmy Bullard, Nathan Ellington and Josh Carson also played in that game and weren’t in the squad which travelled to Cambridge but are included in the party which travels to Kenilworth Road.
Skipper Carlos Edwards and midfielder Andy Drury both face one of their previous clubs.
Notable absentees are Lee Martin, due to the minor thigh injury which kept him out of the games prior to Cambridge, and Ronan Murray, who picked up a slight knock in training earlier in the week.
Squad: Ainsley, Bullard, Carson, Chambers, Chopra, Cresswell, Delaney, Drury, Edwards, Ellington, Emmanuel-Thomas, Hyam, Kourouma, Lawrence, Lee-Barrett, Loach, Luongo, Scotland, Stevenson, Whight.