Town boss Mick McCarthy says he'd have no qualms about handing 17-year-old right-back Josh Emmanuel his debut at Brentford on Saturday with Jonny Parr a confirmed absentee.
"He’s not fit, he’s still carrying his thigh injury that he picked up in one of the pre-season friendlies,” McCarthy said regarding the Norwegian full-back.
"[I’d have no qualms about playing] Josh Emmanuel. Playing him doesn’t worry me at all, he’ll be fine.”
McCarthy outlined what he likes about the Academy product: "His attitude, for one. The pace and power of him, nobody’s going to bully him physically because in this league you can get done if you’re not physically ready. Well, he’s all of that.
"Emotionally ready? Well, if he plays, we’ll find out. Technically ready? I think he’s certainly got good ability, he’s got to work on that, the understanding of the game and defending.
"But if he has to play, he’s got to play and I think he’s done really well in the games.”
Everybody else is fit aside from Luke Hyam, who is sidelined for around another three months having undergone knee surgery earlier in the summer.
Skipper Luke Chambers is set to move into the centre of the defence alongside Tommy Smith with Christophe Berra suspended for one match following his red card in the play-offs at the end of last season. Jonas Knudsen is set for his debut at left-back.