Joe Garner is a notable absentee as the Blues take on Derby County at Pride Park.

The striker didn’t make the trip to the East Midlands, due to a knock. The former Rangers man has been managing an ongoing shoulder problem since pre-season, but it's not that which is hampering him.

Ben Morris was subbed at half-time in yesterday's U23s draw at Charlton in order to be added to the squad for tonight's match.

Emyr Huws is handed his first start of the season and Jordan Spence and Bersant Celina return to the team, while Dominic Iorfa and Freddie Sears drop to the bench.

The starting XI gives manager Mick McCarthy a number of options formation-wise but the Blues boss seems likely to stick with his recently preferred 4-2-3-1 system with Martyn Waghorn in Garner’s usual role and Celina and Grant Ward either side of Huws behind him.

Derby are unchanged for the third game running with former Blues loanee Tom Lawrence starting.

Derby County: Carson, Forsyth, Keogh (c), Lawrence, Baird, Weimann, Vydra, Nugent, Davies, Ledley, Huddlestone. Subs: Mitchell, Russell, Martin, Wisdom, Pearce, Thorne.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Webster, Knudsen, Skuse, Connolly, Ward, Huws, Celina, Waghorn. Subs: Gerken, Iorfa, Bishop, Sears, Downes, Nydam, Morris. Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).

Photo: TWTD

AYACCA added 19:08 - Nov 28 Will have to keep it the deck tonight...
1

TimmyH added 19:10 - Nov 28 Glad that Spence, Huws and Celina all make a start tonight - without those starting I don't think we would have stood a chance of getting anything. Shame about Garner though, he does ruffle the opposition up particularly on corners/free kicks.
3

babyblue added 19:13 - Nov 28 I think Morris hasn't been given the opportunities in the past but Morris over Folami against a strong, physical Derby side, I do believe a mistake
1

gazza73 added 19:13 - Nov 28 Just can't make out his team selections , Kevin bru has been one of his first or second choice of sub in the last few games and he has praised him. We are missing a few tonight and bru doesn't even make the bench.
4

tractorboybig added 19:14 - Nov 28 TimmyH with that defence we don't stand a chance. Again
0

jas0999 added 19:14 - Nov 28 ... after significantly reducing our squad numbers in the summer - picking up a few injuries was always going to be problematic. We also have a couple of injury prone players. Team looks okay, but without any game changers on the bench. Let's hope we attack from the off.
5

bluearmy81 added 19:30 - Nov 28 Garner deliberately left out to avoid suspension if he was to get booked me thinks. I believe all previous yellow cards are rescinded at the end of the month.
2

itfchorry added 19:31 - Nov 28 McCarthy Out
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GoldieBlue added 19:37 - Nov 28 Unusually good/positive line up away from home from Mick. On you now lads. This is the all important game in hand. Make it count. COYB
4

GoldieBlue added 19:38 - Nov 28 Unusually good/positive line up away from home from Mick. On you now lads. This is the all important game in hand. Make it count. COYB
1

hampstead_blue added 19:46 - Nov 28 I am looking forward to seeing Waghorn up top tonight.
2

itsonlyme added 19:47 - Nov 28 We live in hope
1

Ipswichbusiness added 19:53 - Nov 28 The immutable law of the ex means that Lawrence will score against us. I hope we have a solid defence, but I fear that MM will set us up for a draw ... and lose.
0

TimmyH added 19:54 - Nov 28 @tractorboybig - that's why I said glad that Huws and Celina was starting as attack was best form of defence, but yes still Chambers is there and he won't ever be dropped.
2

BanksterDebtSlave added 20:09 - Nov 28 Dino Mick has ruined Connolly !
-1

ChestnutSe added 20:28 - Nov 28 That's why Dino never plays youngsters!
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