Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that 18-year-old right-back Elliott Hewitt will start for the Blues for the first time in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Aston Villa. Striker Michael Chopra and keeper Scott Loach will also be in the starting XI.
McCarthy is keen to rest his regulars but says his options are limited with several players unavailable or moved on: "Chambo broke his nose in training but he’ll be OK. Tyrone Mings is cup-tied, Bradley Orr we can’t play because he’s on loan, Danny Higginbotham’s gone back, Hendo we can’t play because he’s on loan and DJ has gone back. Apart from that, I’ve got no problems at all."
Midfielder Andy Drury is still sidelined with a virus and definitely misses out, while recent signing Mings would have played had he not featured for Yate Town — the team he played for before he was with Chippenham — in the very early stages of the competition.
McCarthy says he’s confident Hewitt will cope against Premier League opposition, having played for his former club Macclesfield against then-top flight Bolton in the competition a year ago: "I’ve liked what I’ve seen in Elliott.
"Let’s see how he does. He trains well, he trains with the first team. He’s got a lot of ability but what he didn’t have when I came in was that experience, know-how and knowledge.”
New loan signing Patrick Kisnorbo is available and will be in the squad.