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Four Make Debuts for Blues at Palace - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy has named his expected very young side for this evening’s second round Carabao Cup tie at Crystal Palace with four players making debuts from the start (KO 7.30pm).

George Fowler, 19, Pat Webber, 18 (pictured), Shane McLoughlin, 20, and Ben Folami, 18, are all handed their senior debuts, while Luke Woolfenden, 18, makes his first start.

Dean Gerken, 32, is in goal and skippers with Woolfenden at right-back, Fowler and Webber the centre-halves and Tristan Nydam, 17, at left-back.

In central midfield, Flynn Downes, 18, is partnered by Adam McDonnell, 20, with on-loan Manchester City winger Bersant Celina, 20, on the left and Danny Rowe, 25, on the right. McLoughlin and Folami are up front.

The team, which McCarthy says is the youngest he has fielded in his 25 years as a manager. The outfielders have an average age of 19.3 with Downes, Nydam and Rowe the only ones to have played on Saturday, when they all came on as subs. Town name just the five subs.

Palace make seven changes from the team which lost 1-0 at Liverpool but still include five players who would be considered first-team regulars.

Former Blues defender Damien Delaney isn’t included in the 18, while there is also no place for former loanee Jonny Williams. Andros Townsend, another one-time loanee is on the bench, but Connor Wickham is still injured.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Kelly, Van Aanholt, Puncheon (c), McArthur, Schlupp, Lokilo, Kaikai, Cabaye. Subs: Hennessey, Tomkins, Lee, Fosu-Mensah, Milivojevic, Townsend, Benteke.

Town: Gerken (c), Woolfenden, Fowler, Webber, Nydam, Rowe, McDonnell, Downes, Celina, McLoughlin, Folami. Subs: Crowe, Morris, Patterson, McKendry, C Smith. Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

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