Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that US U20 international keeper Cody Cropper will be on the bench for the first time when the Blues take on Northampton in the first round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday (KO 7.45pm). Arran Lee-Barrett is the only available senior keeper available and will start, with first choice David Stockdale on England duty and in any case ineligible for the Carling Cup and with Márton Fülöp having joined West Brom.

Jewell says the 18-year-old academy second year, who recently signed his first professional contract, has impressed him: “Arran will be starting and Cody Cropper’s done well, he’s made decent progress and he will be on the bench.”

The Blues boss will make other changes to the team which won so impressively at Bristol City at the weekend: “We will be an opportunity for some players who haven’t played a lot of football in a competitive arena. It will be a good opportunity for them.

“Northampton certainly won’t be easy and we won’t be taking them lightly at all. We know it’s going to be tough.

“I think it’s an opportunity to give players who haven’t played a lot of football a competitive game against a team which will be desperate to come to Portman Road to get a result.”

In addition to Stockdale, Josh Carson misses Tuesday's game because he's with the Northern Irish U21s, Tamás Priskin is with Hungary's senior squad and Damien Delaney has an ankle injury and has been withdrawn from Republic of Ireland duty.

Jewell says he was pleased by the 3-0 victory at Ashton Gate but believes there’s plenty of work still to be done: “There’s no getting away from it, the result was terrific, the performance at times was a bit patchy, but we’re a new team, we had six new players starting on Saturday, so things are going to take a bit of time to bed in.

“Whether we’d won or lost, we weren’t going to get carried away either way. We were pleased with the result, no doubt about it. It was great for the supporters who were there and we enjoyed it. But it was back to work the next day and looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”

The Town manager says there’s nothing new on his move to recruit Blackburn midfielder Keith Andrews on loan and another unnamed player, but hopes to make the signings before the weekend: “It’s ongoing and I’m hoping that by the end of the week we’ll have one if not two people in.”

Jewell dismissed claims that Nottingham Forest had made an offer for striker Tamás Priskin but refused to be drawn on this morning’s link with Liverpool central defender Daniel Ayala: “We could be here all day talking about speculation.

“I don’t want to be evasive, if I do something I want to do it quietly and when we do something you’ll get to know but I don’t want to do business through the papers because I don’t think it’s the right way.

“Some things get out, some are true, some are not and I don’t really want to comment on that one way or another.”

Photo: Action Images

GTRKing added 09:49 - Aug 8 well done & yh hope it a RB & Keith then goal keeper & CB then i will be happy
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GTRKing added 10:01 - Aug 8 well done & yh hope it a RB & Keith then goal keeper & CB then i will be happy
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osborne1nil added 11:19 - Aug 8 Good to hear that those who haven't had much first team play so far are going to be involved. ALB O'Connor, Smith, Ingimarsson, Peters Carson, Hyam, Drury, JET, Scotland Ellington Bench: Chopra, Healy, Whight, Ainsley, Cropper Should give guys a good run out and enough strength for Northampton at home
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simoitfc added 11:24 - Aug 8 need another keeper urgent just heard stockdale cant play in the cup games anywaylee-barret ok but bring in wright as cover im sure hed sign he loves the club
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Karlosfandangal added 11:37 - Aug 8 Osborne 1nil Carson cant play
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ITFC4daprem added 11:40 - Aug 8 Good luck sounds very promising we need a CB ALB Peters---Ainsley----Smith----Whight Hyam Healy----Bowyer(C) JET----------------O'Connor Murray Subs:Cropper, Edwards, Ivrangerson, Leadbitter, Cresswel, Chopra, Scotland Hopefully PJ we see sense with Peters ect
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BlueBoots added 12:12 - Aug 8 Time to make use of the squad, and give a few of the young players a chance to show what they can do... ALB Ainsley, Ingimarsson, Smith, Whight Hyam Peters, Drury, Healy, O' Connor Scotland
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itfc94 added 12:53 - Aug 8 why are some suggesting a 451 formation!? we're at home against a league two side, ALB Edwards, smith, ingimarsson, cresswell Peters, drury, bowyer, jet Scotland, murray
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bontcho added 13:03 - Aug 8 Difficult balance this one between rotating the squad and still winning the game. I'd go for- ALB Ainsley Ingi Smith Whight Peters Leadbitter (c) Healy Drury JET Ellington subs (7 i think in LC) Cropper Cresswell Hyam Martin Griffiths Chopra Murray
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osborne1nil added 13:29 - Aug 8 Karlosfandangal, you are correct. Scrap Carson and perhaps bring in either Leadbitter or Bowyer as Captain in his place? I also like the idea of Blueboots of pushing both Peters and O'Connor into midfield. We will just wait and see how PJ goes with team, but good that he is looking to give the other a run out. COYB
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TractorBoy added 13:33 - Aug 8 Agree with giving Peters and Wright/O'Connor in their respective RB and LB positions and believe healy/dury should start but alongside leadbitter. Ingi may need to be rested and this may be the case for Bowyer. These two need to start on Saturday and wouldn't take a risk on fatigue. Hope ellington and Scotland start up front to try a new partnership out (just in case Chops misses a few later in the season). COYB

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ITFC4daprem added 13:40 - Aug 8 they are 9/2 to beat us aslong as PJ has astrong bench we should be ok 4-3-3 hopefully
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Karlosfandangal added 13:57 - Aug 8 Need a good result as if we lose then all saturdays good work will be un done, Fell Peters, O'Connor and Hyam will do us a good job, not too many changes as we need the side to play together more. In the past I think too many changes was part of our down fall, only change the side if you have too.
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rosseden added 14:12 - Aug 8 not bothered if we stick all the youth out and Northampton play well and get a great result and we end up out of the LC, dont need the distractions of this sort of thing this year with the squad as it currently is.......
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WickedBlue added 14:14 - Aug 8 @osborne1nil you're day dreaming O'Conner (who by the way plays on the left) will not get a game before Ainsley...and Carson is away with NI ALB Ainsley Inggy Smith Whight Peters Healy Hyam Drury JET Ellington Think that would be closer the the team if he is going to give the fringe players a chance...
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SamWhiteUK added 16:10 - Aug 8 Priskin up front - was quality in the cup last year
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tractorboybig added 16:23 - Aug 8 even if he had not done well paul, who would you have on the bench in his place?
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osborne1nil added 16:25 - Aug 8 Thanks WickedBlue, more than aware that O'ConnOr plays on the left and also see my later post re Carson in acknowledgement that he is away. If you read the way it is typed in position they are all mirrored to how you are reading it not just O'Connor. You may be correct that he is not played if PJ wants to get rid but he may also want him in the shop window. As Ainsley has hardly played for the first team to date and O'Connor HAD featured regularly, I don't think I am dreaming and nor do must of the other posts that followed. I guess we shall see.

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Fatboy added 17:30 - Aug 8 So will Cropper now be officially allocated a squad number, or will he just have a "spare" number for the night? Number 1 is still available I believe...
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Gazelle added 19:14 - Aug 8 Hope we don't come a Cropper tomorrow......................sorry !
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tellitasiseeit added 19:28 - Aug 8 If Cropper is called upon He will be fine. He is a very good goalkeeper.He needs the fans to support him in his early days. He is very good COYB
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StowTractorBoy added 19:30 - Aug 8 Here's my guess ALB Ainsley Ingimarsson Smith Whight Edwards Drury Leadbitter JET Scotland Ellington
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alfromcol added 21:22 - Aug 8 Obviously the name of his hairdresser!
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