Teddy Bishop makes his first start of the season as Mick McCarthy makes five changes for today’s Boxing Day game against QPR at Portman Road.

Jonas Knudsen, who missed out at Wolves on Saturday as he was ill, David McGoldrick, Dominic Iorfa and Freddie Sears also return to the XI with Bersant Celina, Grant Ward, Jordan Spence and Myles Kenlock dropping to the bench and Kevin Bru out of the 18.

Cole Skuse remains sidelined with his ankle injury and Bishop, whose only other start in 2017 was at Rotherham in April, looks set to join Callum Connolly in one of the deeper lying midfield roles with Sears and McGoldrick either side of Martyn Waghorn behind lone out and out striker Joe Garner.

For the visitors, who have gone 18 games and 50 years since last winning away on Boxing Day, Jordan Cousins comes into the midfield for Bright Osayi-Samuel, who is among the subs.

Former Blues loanee Massimo Luongo starts, while Jamie Mackie misses out due to a glute injury having returned from a suspension.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Chambers (c), Webster, Knudsen, Connolly, Bishop, McGoldrick, Waghorn, Sears, Garner. Subs: M Crowe, T Smith, Celina, Spence, Ward, Kenlock, McDonnell.

QPR: Smithies, Baptiste, Onuoha (c), Robinson, Wszolek, Cousins, Luongo, Scowen, Bidwell, Freeman, Sylla. Subs: Lumley, Furlong, Hall, Washington, Smith, Chair, Osayi-Samuel. Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

Photo: TWTD

franco added 14:52 - Dec 26 Sears instead of Celia , go now dino mick !
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brian_a_mul added 14:52 - Dec 26 Delighted for Bish, let's hope he can play his natural game and be confident. Connolly & Bish together will be interesting. COYB!
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shoopdelang added 15:15 - Dec 26 Still looks about 13
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BrettenhamBlue added 05:05 - Dec 27 After so many injuries it's great to hear that he got a game. How did he do?
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TonyHumesIpswich added 13:18 - Dec 30 He lasted 20 mins, got injured and now is out for the rest of the season.
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