Town boss Mick McCarthy says he'd have no qualms about handing 17-year-old right-back Josh Emmanuel his debut at Brentford on Saturday with Jonny Parr a confirmed absentee.

“He’s not fit, he’s still carrying his thigh injury that he picked up in one of the pre-season friendlies,” McCarthy said regarding the Norwegian full-back.

“[I’d have no qualms about playing] Josh Emmanuel. Playing him doesn’t worry me at all, he’ll be fine.”

McCarthy outlined what he likes about the Academy product: “His attitude, for one. The pace and power of him, nobody’s going to bully him physically because in this league you can get done if you’re not physically ready. Well, he’s all of that.

“Emotionally ready? Well, if he plays, we’ll find out. Technically ready? I think he’s certainly got good ability, he’s got to work on that, the understanding of the game and defending.

“But if he has to play, he’s got to play and I think he’s done really well in the games.”

Everybody else is fit aside from Luke Hyam, who is sidelined for around another three months having undergone knee surgery earlier in the summer.

Skipper Luke Chambers is set to move into the centre of the defence alongside Tommy Smith with Christophe Berra suspended for one match following his red card in the play-offs at the end of last season. Jonas Knudsen is set for his debut at left-back.

Photo: Action Images

wkj added 14:41 - Aug 6 Sadly Parr seems to be made of glass a little bit, which is a shame as he is a nice player to watch. However I am very excited to see another acadamy player break through to the starting xi
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MaySixth added 14:41 - Aug 6 Jordan McGhee not signing this week then.
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Tractorboy1985 added 14:44 - Aug 6 Great to see Mick giving youth a chance.. I for one don't mind parr but from what I ave gathered in some of micks comments he's not impressing him either.. Might be wrong.. Give this young lad a go and if he impresses can save us 1-1.5 million on a right back! Whatever happens.. Please mick.. Play chambo at CENTRE HALVE with Berra when both fit and free of suspensions.. Would be one of the most solid in the league and use Tommy as back up and a cup player! Roll on Saturday.. COYB!!!

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Michael11 added 14:47 - Aug 6 Parr's going to have a job getting into the team at this rate. Always picking up knocks and never seems to have a run of games. If Mick really likes this McGhee lad then I'm sure he would've parted with £500k by now. I haven't seen Emmanuel play yet but Mick was right when he said Mings was ready last season and people doubted him.
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theipswichman added 14:47 - Aug 6 Is it bad i'm happy about this? Give Emmanuel a chance and if he impresses, who knows?
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MeenoITFC added 14:54 - Aug 6 Fair play to the lad! You have to start somewhere and i think this will be the making of him. Man of the match first game, solid first team starter after that. Positive thoughts only town fans!!
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ElderGrizzly added 14:56 - Aug 6 If our academy products are good enough they need to play. That doesn't mean they are the cheap option, but our manager believes they are ready. I was excited to see Bishop break through last season and I hope Emmanuel does the same
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Daleyitfc added 14:56 - Aug 6 This won't happen : McCarthy will look for any other solution rather than give a youngster a chance. I reckon Skuse at right-back.
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MeenoITFC added 14:59 - Aug 6 ^^Or gerken ay? @DaleyITFC
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miltonsnephew added 15:10 - Aug 6 Ambrose has signed for Colchester, good luck to him!
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miltonsnephew added 15:12 - Aug 6 We should of picked up Luke ayling when we could!! Shame, better hurry up if we are gonna sign someone!
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GiveusaWave added 15:18 - Aug 6 Daleyitfc Skuse will only play at right-back if Emmanuel is unfit.Lets hope Emmanuel has a good debut. Personally wish we had been able to sign the guy from Hearts. Brentford will be an unknown force. Lots of new signings with International experience. Hoffman may well play left wing so could be interesting.
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Slambo added 15:25 - Aug 6 Let the lad earn his spurs! So many youth players (and even senior players, for that matter) are written off after one or two games, or before they've even kicked a ball; give Emmanuel a stretch of ten games, even if in one or two of them he has a bit of a stinker. As long as he's got support and experience around him, he'll be fine. Who knows, he could become a future captain, or even net us 8 million quid further down the line...

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Green_Army added 15:25 - Aug 6 Watched Josh Emmanuel v Utrecht and looked plenty capable enough, yes he's still got plenty to learn and he needs to be calmer on the ball but have no worries with him starting at Brentford. Linked up a couple of times with AMN in that game, which is more times I saw Chambers link up with whoever was RM last season in the whole season. A more natural RB than Chambers for sure.

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Len_Brennan added 15:26 - Aug 6 Mick always chooses his words carefully & I note here he is still only saying "If" Emmanuel plays. Depends on the question he was asked as to whether he is a likely starter. If he does I'd be more happy to see Chambers playing in the middle to be honest, as that would indicate to me that Mick does not see him as our number 1 right back for the season ahead. - Playing Yorwerth centre half instead of Berra would appear to be less of a risk, as Chambers & Smith would not be disrupted from their position of last season and Yorwerth is older and more experienced that Emmanuel to make his debut for the club. - Playing Emmanuel however will disrupt the entire back four, as Chambers will move to right centre, Smith will move to the left centre role, Knudsen is new at left back (obviously in both scenarios) and an untested 17 year old comes in at right back. You might think that option 1 would be less of a risk, unless Mick has decided that Chambers is going to playing at centre half this season, with a new right back coming in. Maybe.

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battyblue added 15:29 - Aug 6 Watch out here comes Tabby
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Bergholtblue added 15:32 - Aug 6 If he plays Brentford will target him. He will need a lot of support from whoever is on the right midfield. But good luck to him, it's great to see the youngsters being considered.
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StowTractorBoy added 15:38 - Aug 6 The Parr scenario with his injuries is worrying and whilst I am pleased MM may give youth a chance against Brentford it is a big ask of Emmanuel. Having said that we cry for youth to be given the chance so the door may well and truly open for Josh on Saturday. If MM does not find a right back by next weekend I think he will revert to playing Chambers at right back making a back line of Chambers, Berra, Smith and Knudsen. Not ideal for me and I sure the Chambers/Smith debate will go on.

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Bluebell added 15:48 - Aug 6 Didn't Mick say Tabby could play in any position? We don't really have that many options with Parr and Berra out. I am sure Emmanuel won't let us down. Hopefully with a good winger (Niles maybe) there to help him, he will do well.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 15:50 - Aug 6 We spend a fortune on having the academy every season, and year after year it churns out players who, given the chance, could easily make Championship footballers. Give the boy a chance Mick!
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BrettenhamBlue added 15:56 - Aug 6 Emmanuel will have a tough time against the Irish Lionel Messi- Alan Judge. Talk about a baptism of fire....
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Tractorboy1985 added 16:00 - Aug 6 Don't know why all the praise for Brentford??? 1. We thrashed them last season at their place! 2. We have taken one of there top performers from last season.. 3. Gray and adebajo are subject to bids from hull (heads turned) .. We have nothing to worry about.. Get at them from thee off as we did on Boxing Day and I'm sure 3 points will be coming back to PR... COYB!!!

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Bluetone added 16:02 - Aug 6 Of course there is always Tabby he is so good he can play anywhere.
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GiveusaWave added 16:03 - Aug 6 Any thoughts on team line up? Obviously, Tabb will play. Murphy and Sears up front? Chambers and Smith in defence. Strategy? Hopefully not hoof-ball. We have kept the ball on the ground (most of the time) during friendlies. Goalie? As for them; will be a very new team that hasn't had a chance to gel yet. If we get at them early we could be looking at another 4-2.
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flashblue added 16:08 - Aug 6 The smart option would be to leave Chambers at RB where he has been for the last two seasons and replace Berra with another CB in Yorwerth.
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