Tyrone Mings comes in for his second senior start in today's season opener at Reading with Aaron Cresswell - who played every minute of last season - ruled out with a thigh injury. Mings is one of two changes from the team which drew 3-3 in last week’s final friendly at Notts County with skipper Carlos Edwards replacing Paul Anderson, who drops to the bench.
Luke Hyam is fine to continue in the centre of midfield despite having missed training with a groin injury earlier in the week.
Cole Skuse makes his Town debut, while ex-Royal Jay Tabb, Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick make their first appearances since joining the Blues on a permanent basis.
Town: Loach, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Mings, Edwards, Skuse, Hyam, Tabb, Murphy, McGoldrick. Subs: Gerken, Berra, Veseli, Tunnicliffe, Anderson, Taylor, Nouble.
Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Karacan, Pearce, Le Fondre, Drenthe, McCleary, Morrison, Bridge, Robson-Kanu, Guthrie. Subs: Federici, Kelly, Pogrebnyak, McAnuff, Gorkks, Williams, Obita. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).