Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that he will field an entirely changed XI in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup second round tie at Crystal Palace, a side which he says will be the youngest team he has named in his 25 years as a manager.
McCarthy says one or two of his senior players picked up minor problems in Saturday’s 2-0 home victory over Brentford, but says they wouldn’t have featured at Selhurst Park in any case.
"Bart took a knock but Bart wouldn’t be playing tomorrow anyway,” he said. "Wardy got a kick on his calf.
"David McGoldrick’s wife is expecting tomorrow, I believe, so he’s with his family, as you’d expect.
"So that leaves me eight fit first-team players, none of whom will be involved. Four defenders, that’s what I’ve got. None of them will be playing because I can’t risk a sending off or an injury.
"So it’ll be all-change, every one of them. I’m not going to apologise for that because I have to do it, but if you are coming tomorrow expect to see the kids and that’s the way it’s going to be.
"And if you are coming, come and support them and give them the support that you give to the first-teamers who would play normally.”
He added: "It’s not sacrificing [the cup] for the league, it’s sacrificing it for the good of players who just keep playing.
"I haven’t got enough, I’ve got so many injuries. Emyr Huws was going to play, he was going to speak to you guys, but he’s gone in for treatment again today. That just tells you how many injuries I’ve got.
"And it’s important, we’ve got a home game on Saturday and if we could win it, it’ll be tough because Fulham are a good side, it would mean a great month and a great start for us. I doubt we’re going to win the Carabao Cup anyway, I just haven’t got the squad to cope with it.”
Regarding Huws, he added: "I’m assuming [it's his achilles] because he just said, ‘Gaffer, I’ve got to go in’, so I’m assuming that’s the case. He went in and I’ve not been in the physio room to check.
"Assumption is the mother of all cock-ups but it’s a pretty easy one to assume.”
Was he willing to give an idea of his team? "Flynn Downes will be playing because he’s spoken to you. Gerks [Dean Gerken] will be playing, he’ll be the captain. Tristan Nydam will be playing and after that you’ll have to find out.”
McCarthy also confirmed that Bersant Celina would make his second start for the Blues, his first having come in the first round victory at Luton.
In addition to Downes, Nydam and Celina, Ben Morris, Pat Webber, Luke Woolfenden, Chris Smith, George Fowler, Ben Folami, Conor McKendry, Michael Crowe, Adam McDonnell, Monty Patterson and Shane McLoughlin are all likely to be in the squad which travels.
If they’re involved, Morris, Webber, Smith, Fowler, Folami, McKendry, sub keeper Crowe, Patterson and McLoughlin will be making their senior Blues debuts. Woolfenden will make his full debut if he starts having featured as a sub at Luton.
Tom Adeyemi is still having treatment on his calf injury, while Tommy Smith (hamstring), Luke Chambers (ankle), Adam Webster (ankle), Teddy Bishop (hernia operation) and Andre Dozzell (cruciate) remain sidelined.