Alex Palmer is handed his Premier League debut but skipper Sam Morsy and Leif Davis miss out with minor injuries as Town face Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Morsy picked up his problem earlier in the week, while Davis, who had started every Premier League game, suffered his knock in training yesterday.
January signing Palmer starts in goal with Aro Muric on the bench as Kieran McKenna makes four changes from the team which lost 2-1 at home Southampton a fortnight ago.
Conor Townsend makes his first league start for the Blues in place of Davis in what looks to be a wing-back role with Ben Johnson on the right. Dara O’Shea captains at the heart of the defence.
In central midfield, Jens Cajuste is partnered by Kalvin Phillips with Omari Hutchinson and Julio Enciso behind lone central striker Liam Delap.
For Villa, Ollie Watkins returns up front following a groin injury and Axel Disasi makes his debut at the back following his move from Chelsea, but Leon Bailey and Ezri Konsa drop out.
Recent signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio are on the bench, as is former Blues defender Tyrone Mings, who is over a knee problem, and two keepers, with Villa naming only eight subs.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Garcia, Kamara, Disasi, Digne, McGinn (c), Tielemans, Malen, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins. Subs: Olsen, Zych, Bogarde, Maatsen, Mings, Asensio, Jimoh-Aloba, Rashford.
Town: Palmer, Tuanzebe, O’Shea (c), Greaves, Townsend, Phillips, Cajuste, Johnson, Hutchinson, Enciso, Delap. Subs: Muric, Godfrey, Woolfenden, Luongo, Taylor, Philogene, J Clarke, Broadhead, Hirst. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside). VAR: Michael Oliver.