Mick McCarthy has confirmed that keeper Dean Gerken and centre-half Christophe Berra will make their Town debuts in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Stevenage. The Town boss will name a much-changed side with left-backs Aaron Cresswell and Tyrone Mings both unavailable.

McCarthy says Berra will be in the line-up at Broadhall Way: “He’s starting tomorrow. It’s an opportunity for him.

“Christophe is great, he played here in the U21s the other day against Colchester and but for him in the team it would have been a really tough afternoon. He’s fine, he understands that the two lads were terrific and he’s starting.”

While confirming that Gerken will also be in the side, McCarthy wouldn’t reveal any more about his line-up: “Yes, he’ll start, but if you ask me about anybody else I won’t tell you!”

The Town manager is hoping that first choice left-back Aaron Cresswell will be OK for the weekend but says he won’t be involved at Stevenage: “No, no chance for tomorrow, I’m hoping that he’ll train on Thursday, train Friday and be available for the Millwall game on Saturday."

Also missing will be Tyrone Mings, who underwent an MRI scan earlier today: “Tyrone won’t be available either, he’ll be out for two weeks at least, I would have thought.

"He opened up his medial ligament and it was remarkable that he actually played for 76 minutes with the injury. It was a really great performance from him.”

Their absence could see 18-year-old David October make his debut, or alternatively Tommy Smith could move across to left-back with Berra coming into the side.

McCarthy wouldn’t say one way or the other: “I could tell you, but I’m not going to. You all know the options, pick and choose what you think I’ll do.”

Midfielder Anthony Wordsworth will also miss out due to the calf injury which saw him subbed within minutes of taking to the field at Notts County: “He’s doing a bit more training but he’s not ready for it, he’s not fit.

“Other than that, there’s just Jack Doherty [ankle], who is not really in the first team squad yet. I think that’s the sum total.”

On-loan Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe isn't available to play for Town in the Capital One Cup.

In addition to October, the likes of Frederic Veseli, Kyle Hammond and Amir Berkane will be hoping to make their first senior starts and McCarthy confirmed that it will be a much-changed team from the one which lined-up at Reading on Saturday

“There will be changes,” he said. “But I told them that beforehand. About half a dozen players that haven’t played will play.”

Photo: Action Images

irishtim added 14:56 - Aug 5 Good to use the squad. Test our strength in depth.
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Blue_Again added 15:04 - Aug 5 Ray mears would be proud...
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BotesdaleBlue added 15:08 - Aug 5 Lets hope the players that come in, give MM something to think about. We've got a relatively small squad, so it is essential we can rely on the "second 11" when called upon, throughout the season. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the trip to Stevenage. Come on you Blues!
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eykeblue added 15:11 - Aug 5 Not sure why, but the Wordsworth injury story is starting to worry me a little?
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heady added 15:38 - Aug 5 Maybe..... Gerken Vaseli Chambers Berra Smith Anderson Berkane Hyam Hammond Taylor Nouble
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 15:41 - Aug 5 TYRONE MINGS FIRST TIME SEEN HIM PLAY & LOOKS LIKE A LIGHTER SHADE OF J.E.T COLE SKUSE..FOR ALL THE WORLD LOOKED LIKE TOMMY MILLER.
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BlueBhoy added 15:51 - Aug 5 Does anyone know if tickets are available on the gate ?
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ITFC_Lincoln added 16:19 - Aug 5 Heady- I would agree except October at left back, I wouldn't think they'd risk all 3 CD's on the pitch in a cup game. I could see Hammond starting RB and Vaseli at RM. who knows!? Lets hope for a good cup run.
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arc added 16:23 - Aug 5 Normally, I would like to see Lawrence given a game, but it sounds from HarryFromBath's report that Stevenage are going to be kicking us all over the pitch. We may need to match their physical play first.
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GREYBLUE added 16:25 - Aug 5 "Cole Skuse for all the world looked like Tommy Miller" - oh dear i was hoping for something much better than that !!
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jas0999 added 16:27 - Aug 5 Looks like we won't be taking the cup too seriously. Would like to see Gerken do well. Although unpopular with many on here - I still have concerns over Loach; not for his shot-stopping or effort - but his ability to control the area and take high balls.
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WaffleMan added 16:38 - Aug 5 hope taylor plays to get some fitness, maybe try out tunnicliffe, veseli and paul anderson
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Mark added 16:57 - Aug 5 Please don't play Smith at left-back, I still have nightmares about that under Keane! We need round pegs in round holes, even if the pegs are inexperienced. Mings must be frustrated that when his chance came with Cresswell's rare injury, he got injured himself!
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Fatboy added 17:05 - Aug 5 @BlueBhoy: According to the ITFC website, "Tickets will be available to purchase from Stevenage on Match day with a £2 price increase." PS For those that don't know, it's extra time and penalties in the Capital One Cup - no replays. See you there!
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DurhamTownFan added 17:13 - Aug 5 Why not chuck Veseli in at LB? If he can play CM, CB and RB, then LB isn't that big a move. Would be a good chance to see how far he's up for mucking in! I reckon he'll play RB though
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ONENIL78 added 17:47 - Aug 5 whose up for payin £32+ for the leeds game then...any offers
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NSL added 17:53 - Aug 5 Great chance for Gerken to have a solid game and retain the jersey for Saturday I would have thought. 1) MM has never had 100% confidence in Loach and 2) Loach did't do us any favours with the two goals on Saturday (again, bit harsh, maybe?) I've said it anyway. A better Championship keeper would have prevented them.
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Seasider added 17:54 - Aug 5 Eykeblue-think you'll find that Col U fans will consider Wordy to be a bit of a 'sick note'. Hope the big man will take this game seriously and include a handful of first team regulars whilst making six or seven changes;as the meagre transfer budget he would appear to have been given,leads one to believe that the club needs as much income as possible.
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Michael11 added 18:05 - Aug 5 Think it's a wise move to rest the majority of the first team. The last thing we need is McGoldrick or someone getting injured for a daft cup game that no one really cares about.
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theobald1985 added 19:47 - Aug 5 NSL why dont you stop crtising loach and get behind him one goal was an og and one goal was a wicked deflection he is ar3e number one and the sooner the vocal minority accept it and get behind him the better. gerken is goood back up but loach is the better gk by some way. i would be amazed if loach dosent start at millwall
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ericclacton added 20:21 - Aug 5 Hoooooray for Gurkin and Beera.
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 21:09 - Aug 5 I fear Wordsworth puts him self about a bit too much, not a bad thing to see as he's willing to get stuck in, but maybe lay off that approach slightly.
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andygizmo added 21:13 - Aug 5 Dont discount Veseli as a holding Central Midfield player. he played there for MU Reserves and did himself proud.
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BlueMachines added 22:32 - Aug 5 Gerken Hammond chambers Berra October. Anderson (Lm) berkane tunnicliffe veselli(RM) Taylor nouble My guess anyway
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budgieplucker added 23:32 - Aug 5 Tunnicliffe doesn't have permission to play in this competition. I can see Hammond at right back and Veseli at LB
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