Town boss Mick McCarthy has named an unchanged side for today’s home game against Watford and again look set to start in a 4-3-3 formation.
Stephen Hunt misses out on a place on the bench due to the hamstring injury he suffered in training, with Paul Taylor taking his place.
New signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is left out of the 18 with McCarthy saying he isn’t expected to be involved until the FA Cup tie against Preston on January 4th.
New Watford manager Giuseppe Sannino makes seven changes to the Hornets side Gianfranco Zola lined-up in his final game last week, a 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Former Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia returns and is skipper, along with Lloyd Doyley, Joel Ekstrand, Gabriele Angella, Lewis McGugan, Daniel Pudil and Diego Fabbrini. Jonathan Bond, Hector Bellerin, Fitz Hall, Davide Faraoni, Nyron Nosworthy, Cristian Battochio and Ikechi Anya drop out.
Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Hyam, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Nouble, McGoldrick, Murphy. Subs: Loach, Mings, Edwards, Tabb, Anderson, Graham, Taylor.
Watford: Almunia (c), Doyley, Angella, Ekstrand, Cassetti, Murray, Thorne, McGugan, Pudil, Fabbrini, Deeney. Subs: Bond, Battocchio, McEachran, Forestieri, Anya, Iriney, Nosworthy.