Harrop Starts as Cook Era Gets Under Way at Gillingham - Ipswich Town News

Josh Harrop starts in place of Alan Judge in an otherwise unchanged Town line-up for new boss Paul Cook’s first game in charge at Gillingham, while Kayden Jackson returns to the bench.

Judge is missing from the 18 due to a family bereavement and the team will wear black armbands.

The Blues look set to set up in the same system as employed in their last four games with former Gill Tomas Holy in goal.

Skipper Luke Chambers will be at right-back, Myles Kenlock at left-back with Toto Nsiala and James Wilson the centre-halves.

In midfield, Andre Dozzell and Teddy Bishop continue as the central two with Harrop likely to be a direct replacement for Judge on the left - although Troy Parrott is an alternative - with Keanan Bennetts on the right.

Parrott looks set to be in the number 10 role - with Harrop another option - behind lone out-and-out striker James Norwood.

Jackson is back in the 18 for the first time since his sending off against Sunderland and exile to the U23s under former manager Paul Lambert. Luke Woolfenden also returns to the matchday squad.

Gillingham are unchanged from their 1-1 home draw with the MK Dons on Tuesday evening with former Blues loanee Jordan Graham and one-time Town academy youngster Stuart O’Keefe in their starting line-up.

Gillingham: Bonham, Jackson, Cundy, Tucker, Ogilvie, O'Keefe, Dempsey (c), Graham, Lee, O'Connor, Oliver. Subs: Bastien, Johnson, MacDonald, McKenzie, Akinde, Willock, Morton.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock, Dozzell, Bishop, Bennetts, Harrop, Parrott, Norwood. Subs: Cornell, Woolfenden, Ward, Downes, Edwards, Sears, Jackson.

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