Boss Mick McCarthy has revealed that Andre Dozzell will make his first senior start when the Blues take on Fulham at Portman Road on Tuesday evening, having made a goalscoring debut as a sub aged only 16 years and 350 days as Town drew 1-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

“He’s had to have an operation to wipe the smile off his face, to get the coat hanger out of his mouth!” McCarthy joked.

“Actually, he’s generally a smiley lad. He’s great, he’s enjoyed it and I don’t see any difference in him, he’s trained with us today and we’ll find out how that’s affected him because he’s playing tomorrow, he’s starting.”

McCarthy says Cole Skuse should be back from the injury which forced him out of the Owls game but Daryl Murphy remains sidelined with the calf problem he suffered while away with the Republic of Ireland.

“I’m expecting Skusey to be fit, he trained today and providing that he doesn’t have a reaction to the stiff neck he had he’ll be fine, but not Murph. He had a little reaction to the injury, so he’ll be missing.”

Does McCarthy expect the 33-year-old striker to be fit for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough? “We’ll just wait and see with him. The danger is for him as much as anybody.

“The European Championships are coming up, don’t get me wrong he wants to be playing for us, but there is that real carrot at the end of the season for him and I’d love him to go and enjoy it, play and experience that because it’s a wonderful opportunity.

“The temptation is to try and get back so you’re playing and you’re in everybody’s eyeline, but I think you just make sure he’s fit, if that’s for the last two games or last game, and that’s he’s fit and he’ll be ready and able to go there.

"And he’s no good to us if he’s not fit anyway. Let’s try and get him back.”

Luke Varney will also miss out against the Cottagers, McCarthy says: “Luke’s got a hamstring strain. Nothing major but he’s not available for Tuesday night."

Luke Hyam will be back from his one-match ban, while loanee Ben Pringle is unavailable against his parent club.

Youngsters Adam McDonnell, Myles Kenlock and Josh Emmanuel weren’t included in this afternoon’s U21s side at Sheffield United and are likely to be amongst the subs as they were at Hillsborough at the weekend.

Photo: Action Images

rfretwell added 14:06 - Apr 18 Nice one Mick. That will cheer the fans up.
11

tazdac added 14:10 - Apr 18 Skuse got a stiff neck from looking up at the ball sailing over his head :o)
22

Currie10 added 14:13 - Apr 18 Credit where it's due Mick, you're absolutely as good as your word stating some lads would get their chance when the season is over. I don't think Mick's quite as anti-youth as people think - but he won't play players if they aren't ready for it. I actually feel quite upbeat about next season - think a few mistakes have happened this but I'd rather give Mick another to get it right than starting again. COYB.

19

nysully added 14:14 - Apr 18 What is Murph's contract status? Anyone else have a feeling he may have played his last match with us? Also I thought the way Pitman verbally abused Knudsen at length after the game for not getting him the ball was completely out of order, yes Knudsen should have done better but the over the top reaction tells me he us sick sh*t of bring with us!
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martin587 added 14:16 - Apr 18 Now,that is good news.I just wonder if MM has bowed to supporter pressure.! 👍
0

Brazilsnuts added 14:32 - Apr 18 Bart Chambers smith Berra Knusden Foley Bru Sears Dozzell Feeney Mcgoldrick
3

Currie10 added 14:35 - Apr 18 I thought the total opposite Nysully if Knudsen had done the basics we'd have won 2-1 and our season wouldn't be dead. Good to see some passion at times - I was so angry in the stadium at Knudsen. Basics!
13

floridaboy added 14:37 - Apr 18 Let's hope if Scott Parker is playing he doesn't take young Andre out after a few minutes!! Will add a few to the gate. Should beat them surely!
4

floridaboy added 14:39 - Apr 18 Just to add surely our season was dead before Saturday's game in Sheffield!
3

MattinLondon added 14:40 - Apr 18 Great news - hoipefully being given game time at this stage of the season will mean that he will know exactly is needed in the league next season. Be good if a few other youngsters can also be blooded as well. Shame that Skuse is fit and will probably play as well
2

Stato added 14:48 - Apr 18 A ray of sunshine in a very dull season.
6

muccletonjoe added 14:58 - Apr 18 Not much cheer this season so would be nice to finnish with a couple of academy players breaking into the first team. It would certainly cheer me up
13

iaintaylorx added 15:00 - Apr 18 Lets also play a couple other youngsters? Can only be a good thing as they'll want to impress the boss and also the fans. McDonnell, Benyu, Emmanuel, Kenlock. Best bit about this season!
5

woohoo added 15:00 - Apr 18 Really pleased for both Dozzell junior and senior. I can imagine that it will be quite something for Jason to see his boy walk out in the first team at PR.
11

blueherts added 15:05 - Apr 18 I think Knudsen and Niles in the past month have cost us points BUT I also think our whole back line has been suspect bar Bart This news re Dozzell is the most positive thing to have happened in over 4 months! Great news and if this is a sign of things to come excellent Sometimes Micks hand is forced and as he has seen before it can be to our advantage Nothing to lose lots to gain and I am looking fwd to seeing a Town side with likes of Kenlock Dozzell even McDonnell Just not Douglas and Skuse sitting please no more of that Mick

6

brittaniaman added 15:18 - Apr 18 So Skuse is fit, Hyam over his one match ban, and Douglas well still available ?? Surely MM. is not going to play the 3 together again, ????? or even 2 out of the 3 ?????? Please Mick !!!!
5

TR11BLU added 15:32 - Apr 18 McCarthy out
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tractorshark added 15:39 - Apr 18 We only played one holding midfielder on Saturday - Douglas. In my mind, we only need one and Skuse is capable doing that role with Douglas, Hyam etc as understudies. That frees up others to be more attacking. It allows you to accommodate the likes of Bru without worrying about the defensive side of his game. Disagree with the comment of throwing too many youngsters in, though. The team gets exposed when we make wholesale changes. You need to integrate one or two as we go along. The ideal scenario is we play with freedom, hit Fulham and MK hard and then be in a position to bring on the youngsters for half an hour. Oh, and McGoldrick adds a completely different dimension to our play.

2

Currie10 added 15:39 - Apr 18 I haven't been to as many games as most this season, but based on Saturday - Douglas wasn't great or anything, but seriously what on earth Bru offered Saturday is quite beyond me. Very very little!
4

dirtyboy added 16:24 - Apr 18 Does Dozzell play in the centre, or wide or just behind the front? Just thinking about how he fits into a team with potentially Sears, Bishop, Murphy and McGoldrick?
0

Currie10 added 16:26 - Apr 18 Bar the goal Sat Dozzell didn't offer much and maybe touched the ball less than 5 times. Not helped by the fact Wendy are one of the best ball playing sides in the league and quality at home. Will have done him no harm!
1

jas0999 added 16:27 - Apr 18 Fantastic news. With very little to play for (both sides), we may as well experiment. Unless in the plans for next season, I see little point of those being released or loanees starting.
6

markytitfc66 added 16:28 - Apr 18 Why do I think these are just words from MM to try and boost ticket sales for next season and we will still see the same method as this season? Great to see youngsters given a chance when the season is all but over but will he use them when the new one starts? Call me cynical!
2

ArnieM added 16:44 - Apr 18 Currie 10 the reason ADELE didn't touch the ball much especially because the Town players wouldn't give him the bloody ball! AD was constantly offering himself for the short pass. Still was probably for the best as he needed just to soak up the experience and not to even think about getting into the box and score. Town midfielders never do that, do they ;) !
2

nthstd added 16:46 - Apr 18 Great news. An Attacking midfield player. Excellent. He could do with washing his hair, but not tomorrow night.
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