Cameron Humphreys is handed his first league start as the Blues take on Port Vale at Vale Park, one of five changes from the team which beat Derby 1-0 on Friday.
Humphreys, 18, starts in central midfield alongside Dominic Ball with skipper Sam Morsy suspended and Lee Evans absent having suffered a knee injury against the Rams.
Keeper Christian Walton is in goal behind Janoi Donacien, Luke Woolfenden and George Edmundson, while Wes Burns and Leif Davis continue in the wide roles.
However, Kieran McKenna switches his three forward players with Conor Chaplin and Kyle Edwards behind Freddie Ladapo with Marcus Harness, Kayden Jackson and Tyreece John-Jules dropping to the bench.
Cameron Burgess is also among the subs for the first time since suffering his facial injury and Panutche Camara is in the 18 for the first time in the league.
For Port Vale, former Town striker Ellis Harrison starts up front, one of four changes from the team which won 1-0 at Cambridge on Saturday.
Port Vale: Stone, Jones, Hall, Smith, Worrall, Garrity, Wilson, Conlon c), Forrester, Massey, Harrison. Subs: Cass, Benning, Robinson, Pett, Butterworth, Politic, Odubeko.
Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Burns, Ball, Humphreys, Davis, Chaplin, Edwards, Ladapo. Subs: Hladky, Burgess, Keogh, Camara, Harness, Jackson, John-Jules. Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham).