Town hand the expected debuts to 17-year-old Matt Clarke, keeper Bartosz Bialkowski and winger Alex Henshall, while Jack Marriott and Kevin Bru make their first Blues starts and there’s a rare start for transfer-listed Paul Taylor in tonight’s Capital One Cup first round tie at Crawley.
Clarke lines-up at left-back with Elliott Hewitt at right-back and skipper Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra at the heart of the defence.
In central midfield Bru partners Anthony Wordsworth with Henshall on the left and Taylor likely to be on the right. Marriott is up front with Frank Nouble.
The bench includes Luke Hyam, who was subbed with cramp late on on Saturday, Dean Gerken and Balint Bajner, as well as youngsters Byron Lawrence, Darren McQueen, Teddy Bishop and Ben Wyatt. Tyrone Mings and Jay Tabb travelled with the squad but are rested.
Crawley: Jensen, Oyebanjo, Bradley, Leacock, Walsh (c), Edwards, Henderson, Smith, Bawling, Young, McLeod. Subs: Dickson, Banya, Essam, Rose, O’Connor, Richefond, Isaacs.
Town: Bialkowski, Hewitt, Chambers (c), Berra, Clarke, Bru, Wordsworth, Taylor, Henshall, Nouble, Marriott. Subs: Gerken, Wyatt, Lawrence, Hyam, Bishop, McQueen, Bajner. Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear).