Town boss Paul Lambert has named the expected much-changed side for this evening’s Leasing.com Trophy tie against Gillingham.
Will Norris is in goal behind a back three of Toto Nsiala, making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in pre-season and wearing the skipper’s armband, James Wilson and Luke Woolfenden - the only two players to start at Fleetwood at the weekend - with Myles Kenlock and Janoi Donacien the wing-backs.
Emyr Huws and Idris El Mizouni start in the deeper midfield roles with Danny Rowe ahead of them behind front pair Will Keane and Jordan Roberts.
On the bench, Harry Wright is the sub keeper, alongside Armando Dobra and young midfielder or forward Tommy Hughes and midfielder Brett McGavin, who are included in the first-team matchday squad for the first time.
Gillingham make 10 changes from the team which won 3-1 at home to Southend at the weekend with former Blues loanee Ben Pringle starting and ex-Town academy youngster Stuart O’Keefe on the bench.
Town: Norris, Woolfenden, Nsiala (c), Wilson, Donacien, El Mizouni, Huws, Kenlock, Rowe, Keane, Roberts. Subs: Wright, Edwards, Dobra, Hughes, McGavin, Clements, Simpson.
Gillingham: Walsh, Hodson (c), Garmston, Ogilvie, Mandron, Charles-Cook, Cisse, Pringle, Marshall, Woods, Tucker. Subs: Bonham, O’Keefe, Ehmer, Ndjoli, Lee, Jakubiak, O’Connor. Referee: Tom Nield (West Yorkshire).