Town boss Mick McCarthy has named a stronger than expected side for Tuesday’s EFL Cup first round tie at home to Stevenage. However, Brett Pitman and Shane McLoughlin are injured, while Daryl Murphy has been given time off.

“Dean Gerken, Chambo, Jonas Knudsen, Diggers, Tommy Smith, Kevin Bru, Dougie, Andre Dozzell, Freddie Sears, Conor Grant and Grant Ward,” McCarthy said, revealing his team, which is set to line-up 4-3-3, a day early as he has done previously for cup games.

The Town manager says he’s not taking the game lightly and some of his senior players will benefit from keeping their places.

“I always want to win the game,” he added. “I’ve changed 10 in the past but I think some of them will get better with games, just continuing to play.”

As for Tuesday's subs, he’s not yet made up his mind, although youngsters such as Myles Kenlock, Josh Emmanuel, James Blanchfield, Ben Morris, Tristan Nydam and Adam McDonnell are in his thoughts for the 18.

“Possibly, I’ll see,” McCarthy said. “I don’t know yet. I’ll make my mind up over tonight and tomorrow. Ben Morris, Shane McLoughlin’s injured, he’s unavailable.

“I still want my options on the bench so if I need them they can come on and change the game and hopefully win it, if needs be.”

As for those who won’t be involved, he said: “Brett Pitman’s got a bit of a thigh strain so he’ll be missing and Murph’s missing because I’ve given him a few days off because of his exploits [at the Euros] in the summer.

“If he doesn’t get it now he’ll never get it because he’ll be going away on international duty, so he’s not available for the game. He’ll be back on Wednesday, ready for Saturday. A couple of them are missing but I’ve still got Didzy and Freddie and others that are OK.”

The Town boss isn’t yet sure whether Pitman will be OK for Saturday’s visit to Brentford: “I don’t know, he’s no good for tomorrow, I’m hopeful for the weekend.

“It was just in training yesterday, he’d gone through his warm-up, it was late on in the training session, he just went to hit a ball and felt his thigh. He’s been in and he’s got a bit of fluid on it. We’re hopeful it’s not going to be too long.”

Luke Hyam and Giles Coke (both knee) are also set to be missing along with McLoughlin, who McCarthy says would have been involved but for picking up a niggle.

“It is unfortunate for Shane, it’s the same for anybody who gets an injury, especially if they think they’ve got a chance of being involved, and he would have been if he hadn’t have been injured,” he continued.

“He’s alright Shane, he’s a proper competitor, for somebody of his size he’s a real warrior. He’s brilliant in the air for his size. It is a shame, but he’ll get his chances.”

Regarding any further moves in or out, McCarthy said: “No, there’s nothing imminent but whoever comes in I hope he has the impact that Grant Ward made! No pressure whatsoever on new incomers in whatever position at Ipswich Town Football Club, just do as well as the last two that came in!”

The new FanZone on the FieldTurf behind the East of England Co-op Stand will again be open with gates opening at 6pm.

Photo: Action Images

Bluebell added 14:12 - Aug 8 Well done to Mick for picking a team that can win this one. I know he hates cup games but it would be good to go on a cup run so that it means youngsters will get a chance in this and future games even if it is off the bench.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:17 - Aug 8 Sounds OK-ish. Giving Gerken, Digby, Tommy, and Douglas a run out is understandable for a game of this sort, but the team is still quite strong, although the defensive unit is weaker. Good to keep the two "Grants" in, as this might help build up momentum for the League; and adding Dozzell is a positive. I know many don't approve of JD, but if he's part of the squad, then he needs to be used from time to time. Hope it really is a 4-3-3 and not a 4-5-1. With no target man up front, tactics might need to change (for the better as hoofball will be even less appropriate now?)

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iaintaylorx added 14:19 - Aug 8 I really do wish he had Emmanuel and Kenlock in there over our two full backs though. I'd also like to see Benyu at some point this season too. Aside from that, good team - apart from Douglas!
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StowTractorBoy added 14:20 - Aug 8 This demonstrates how we are very short of alternatives for Murphy. Badly need another tall target man as asking a lot of Murphy to play in all our matches. Pitman would normally have replaced him but does not have the attributes of Murphy in the air. No doubt MM knows this so hopefully we will find an alternative sooner rather than later. Pleased with the team selection overall just hope we keep the ball on the floor.

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bluebare added 14:37 - Aug 8 it was bad enough to see Douglas on the bench let alone play him in any level game. he is not the future. agree that the 2 young fullbacks should have played although Knudsen needs game time, (he looks to have bulked up a bit)? lets hope we do the job this time
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rickw added 14:54 - Aug 8 Agree completely about Emmanuel and Kenlock - both played really well in our last 2 matches last season and I was hoping they'd get chances to try to replace Chambers and Knudsen, but not even playing against Stevenage suggest they're a long way behind in Mick's eyes... Other than that it's a good team, looks like a 4-2-3-1 formation, Douglas might not be as bad without Skuse in the team - meaning he can play his more natural holding role

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CalneBlue added 15:07 - Aug 8 Can someone enlighten me why MM would feel the need to make the team selection public in advance. Wouldn't happen for a league game and surely gives the opposition an advantage they wouldn't otherwise have? Certainly didn't help last season.
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rickw added 15:22 - Aug 8 Maybe he feels it's a line-up which would encourage more fans to turn up?
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bohslegend added 15:23 - Aug 8 Good line up.. Nice balance of regulars and those on the fringes. while it might have been nice to see the young full backs coming in I think MM was on a hiding to nothing there. If they played and we lost he'd be hammered for playing them, if we win and he doesn't he'l be hammered for playing them. Would be nice to get a good positive result tomorrow. Bit of a banana skin again though.

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Mullet added 15:34 - Aug 8 Can someone tell us what we should be moaning about on this one? Has there been a meeting yet to decide? He's not made several changes and "disrespected" the (1st round of the minor) cup. He's not played all the kids but some of them. What is stubborn old Mick doing changing things up again?
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brian_a_mul added 15:38 - Aug 8 Its a team set up to play football! Freddie as main striker supported by Grant and Ward in the wide channels. Dozzell being the player to bring the ball forward to link midfield with our attacking trio. Or Freddie up front with Dozzell playing in behind him in a 4-4-1-1. Grant and Ward as wide midfield players. This is probably more likely, Im not sure if Grant can play as a wide player in a front three.

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Ferguson added 16:00 - Aug 8 For the fun of it, let's assume the manager is the most important factor in a team's success. If so, reaching the League Cup semi final in 2010/2011 with RK surely must mean we can win it under it's new name with MM in 2016/17. A fourth star on the shirt would look kinda cool too don't you think..
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bedsitfc added 16:28 - Aug 8 I too would like to see josh and miles play as I believe they are our future full backs. I really like kenlock against mk last season he put them under pressure when we had the ball and defended well without it.
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GerkensBeard added 16:31 - Aug 8 For those saying looks like we are going to play football tomorrow night. I honestly didn't really see any hoofball Saturday. Okay a couple of times when nothing else was on and all players were marked but it was still an educated ball up to Murphy (who wins everything) with team mates waiting for the second ball. It wasn't like last season where the midfielders wouldn't offer and it would simply be hoofed up. It was a good mix Saturday. Even in the first half. And well as we all saw it was completely gun Ho second half and got to the other end of the pitch very quickly moving the ball on the floor. I think Conor Grant will be pivotal in this as he appeared an very technically gifted player who reminded me of Peter Whittingham in his prime. If anything a good mix of football and being direct. I call it direct as it isn't aimless hoofs. I believe it's a very good recipe for success and the teams with got out of this league last season all had that! Burnley, Boro and Hull all direct and footballing teams. None total football like Derby...

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TimmyH added 16:41 - Aug 8 Emmanuel and Kenlock should be playing as RB's and other than Douglas a reasonably strong team...it's just what McCarthy will be telling them which generally worries me when it comes to cup games. McCarthy's track record in such games is dire. Hopefully a comfortable win...it's about time!
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runningout added 17:00 - Aug 8 you should all blooming well know by now, not to take anything for granted.... Players should be ruthless in all games, I would hope...
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jas0999 added 17:03 - Aug 8 Good team. I'd have liked to have seen Kenlock, but perhaps after Saturday, like many, MM wants to see Chambers and Knudsen perform after less than impressive showings. Should win this comfortably.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 17:45 - Aug 8 I'm one that doesn't like Mcarthy as manager & certainly not getting carried away after one good result! He says this team is strong, but why not play the BEST TEAM available. Am sick of being short changed by him, his lack of desire for cup matches & the dreadful football he insisted his team played from the Reading game onwards last season. About time he thought about the fans who pay to watch.

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oldegold added 18:45 - Aug 8 Personally I don't think he will change in the slightest. The team he will send out will be an "inferior" one and not our "strongest" one and our performance tomorrow night will mirror that. We should not start getting excited about the team selection because ultimately he is not interested in progressing in any cup tournament. He will continue to play certain players out of position when they are manifestly not made for those positions and not play the strongest players i.e Kenlock and Emmanuel as attacking full backs but will persist with a weaker set up i.e Chambers and Knudsen as anything to the contrary would suggest erroneous team selection and he would never admit to that. I think another cup exit is on the cards personally.

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essex57 added 18:49 - Aug 8 Can't see where your coming from shepton apart from moaners corner, he is putting out a stronger team than last year he's letting the fans know in advance so they can make there minds up if they want to come or not for gods sake get behind the team club. I wish I could be there got to miss my first game in 4 years because of business reasons gutted.
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alfromcol added 19:41 - Aug 8 This team should be good enough to see off Stevenage, although I would have liked to have seen at least one of the young fullbacks start the game. People have to realise that playing the first team in these games risks injuries and the primary aim of the season is to get out of this league. I think on this occasion, unlike last year, he has a balance of first teamers in the squad. Hopefully, progressing to the next round.

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Bluejake added 19:48 - Aug 8 Interesting that MM says "but whoever comes in I hope he has an impact....."; this suggests at least one more signing by the end of the month, but in what position(s)?
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SheptonMalletBlue added 20:56 - Aug 8 essex57, I'm right behind my club & team, just not the man in charge!!
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BrettenhamBlue added 22:41 - Aug 8 Did you guys see Emmanuel and Kenlock at our 5-4 defeat to AFC Sudbury? I can understand MM's reluctance in playing them atm.
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harlingblue added 23:22 - Aug 8 Great for us supporters to see the team picked before a cup game. If you were one of the supporters that went to Old Trafford last year you will know what I mean! Time for teams to worry about us, and the formation that they will have to use to try and beat us.
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