Selection Dilemmas for McCarthy Friday, 6th Dec 2013 14:22 Boss Mick McCarthy has several selection dilemmas ahead of Saturday’s home game against Huddersfield having made four changes to the side which won at Charlton last Saturday for the victory over Blackburn on Tuesday. Frank Nouble, Carlos Edwards, Luke Hyam and Stephen Hunt came into the team in place of Daryl Murphy, Paul Anderson, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Jay Tabb as the Blues boss looked to freshen his up his side after what was a tough 1-0 win at the Valley. McCarthy has almost a full squad to choose from striker Paul Taylor is out due to the shoulder injury he suffered in the Leicester game: “He’s not fit, he’s still injured with it. Hopefully he’ll be all right for the Christmas period. “He got a really nasty knock on it and he just trained the other day and felt it. He’s not involved tomorrow.” Young right-back Elliott Hewitt is the only other senior player sidelined presently, having returned from his loan spell at Gillingham with a fractured ankle. Midfielder Cole Skuse is over a bug he was suffering from prior to the Blackburn match. “You wouldn’t have noticed really because I thought he played really well," McCarthy said. “I took him off with seven or eight minutes to go because he’d run out of steam. He’s all right, he’s fine, he’d had diarrhoea and sickness, I think.” The Town boss may well decide to stick with the team that beat Blackburn with Dean Gerken in goal, Aaron Cresswell at left-back, Luke Chambers on the right and Tommy Smith and Christophe Berra in the centre. In midfield, Hyam could get the nod ahead of Tunnicliffe alongside Skuse, the former academy player having netted his first goal of the season in the 3-1 victory over Rovers. Skipper Edwards may also keep Anderson out having scored his first of the campaign as well. Stephen Hunt impressed when making his first start and also seems set to keep his place. Alongside David McGoldrick up front, Frank Nouble would appear unlikely to be dropped having grabbed the third goal on Tuesday, his second of the season. McCarthy says he has a lot of time for his opposite number Mark Robins: “I remember him at Barnsley and I was sad when he left because I thought he’d done a good job and left under mysterious circumstances. “I spoke to him then and he’s done really well, he certainly is now. They’ve won their last three games, they’re playing 3-5-2. I know Andy Liddell knows him well and rates him highly. It’ll be hard game, he’s doing well.” McCarthy usually tends to stick with his usual 4-4-2 system from the start regardless of the opposition's approach, changing his formation if necessary. He says dealing with the Terriers' set-up is something which has been worked on: “You’ve got to be able to combat them. They’re playing well at the moment doing it. “However you do it, whether it’s off your shape and organise that or do something different, three o’clock, come down there and see.” He says Huddersfield could be surprise challengers at the right end of the table this year having struggled last season: “I think they are now, they’ve spent a few quid in the summer. “They took James Vaughan and Adam Hammill, Martin Paterson from Burnley. Some of them were frees but they’ve spent a few quid. They’ve got a good squad of players. They look a threat at the moment, definitely.” Terriers boss Robins knows Blues striker David McGoldrick well having been his manager during his loan spell at Coventry — in which he scored 17 goals in 24 starts and one sub appearance - prior to his January move to the Blues: “David came in on loan from Nottingham Forest and did really well, and Mick is a great guy and vastly experienced. “Ipswich were in a bit of trouble when he arrived but he steadied them down and has built a strong side with some good players. “Cole Skuse is a very solid midfielder and Aaron Cresswell is a creative player and one we will have to watch.” The one-time Canary added: “Ipswich are in a bit of form themselves and being at home they will fancy their chances.” Midfielder Adam Clayton is available having been suspended, while striker Martin Paterson is expected to be over a hamstring problem. Midfielder Keith Southern has missed the trip due to illness and skipper Peter Clarke is out long-term with medial knee ligament damage. Historically, Town have won 19 games (including the only cup tie between the sides), the Terriers 11, with seven ending in draws. Huddersfield have won their last three matches and are in 10th, a place behind the Blues on goal difference, who are also on 26 points. Town haven’t beaten the Terriers since a 2-1 victory at Portman Road in 2000, although last season’s two games have been the only meetings since then. In February, Town and Huddersfield shared the points from a scrappy and scruffy 0-0 draw at the John Smith’s Stadium. The Terriers had the game’s two significant chances with Lee Novak shooting wide when well placed in the first half, then after the break Stephen Henderson blocked from the striker and then the rebound from midfielder Neil Danns. Last time at Portman Road, in August last year, Luke Chambers scored his first Town goal, Michael Chopra netted his second of the season and Scott Loach saved a penalty as the sides drew 2-2. The Terriers were in front at the break via Adam Clayton before Town levelled and then went in front. Former Canary James Vaughan equalised for the visitors then saw his spotkick stopped by Loach. Blues striker Alan Lee was with the West Yorkshiremen until the summer before returning to his old club, while another one-time Town frontman Jon Stead made a similar move when he re-signed for the Terriers, his first club, having left Bristol City in the close season. Saturday’s referee is Garry Sutton from Lincolnshire, who has shown 47 yellow cards and three red in 13 games so far this season. Sutton’s last Town game was the 3-2 home victory over Peterborough in March 2012, while he also took control of the 5-3 win at Barnsley earlier in that season. All this weekend’s matches will stage a minute's applause to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela. Town: Gerken, Loach, Chambers, Veseli, Hammond, Cresswell, Mings, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Hyam, Wordsworth, Tunnicliffe, Edwards, Anderson, Tabb, Hunt, Graham, Murphy, McGoldrick, Nouble, Lee.
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