Much-targeted striker Martyn Waghorn has been left out of the 18 for Paul Hurst’s opening Championship game at home to Blackburn Rovers.

Bartosz Bialkowski starts in goal with Jordan Spence at right-back, Jonas Knudsen at left-back and Janoi Donacien making his Blues debut at the centre with skipper Luke Chambers in Hurst’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Trevoh Chalobah is another debutant alongside Cole Skuse with Flynn Downes ahead of them and Freddie Sears on the left.

Debut-makers three and four, Gwion Edwards and Ellis Harrison, are on the right and up front respectively

Andre Dozzell is on the bench alongside Jordan Roberts and Tayo Edun, who could also make their Blues’ debuts.

Waghorn, who is at the ground, is expected to join either Derby or Middlesbrough before Thursday’s deadline. Tristan Nydam is also absent from the 18, presumably due to injury.

Former Blues skipper, coach and caretaker-manager Tony Mowbray includes ex-Town loan striker Dominic Samuel in his side.

Ipswich: Bialkowski, Spence, Donacien, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Skuse, Chalobah, Downes, Sears, Edwards, Harrison. Subs: Gerken, Roberts, Dozzell, Edun, Kenlock, Woolfenden, Morris.

Blackburn: Raya, Nyambe, Leniman, Mulgrew, Williams, Smallwood, Evans, Dack, Samuel, Bennett, Graham. Subs: Leutwiler, Rothwell, Bell, Nuttall, Travis, Conway, Palmer. Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

Photo: TWTD

afcfee added 14:28 - Aug 4 Dozzell for Skuse would be my only change, apart from that we look good. COYB
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:29 - Aug 4 Boro have flogged Bamford for 10 mil and Gibson for 13 mil. See them being Waggys destination. Hopefully that allows us to sign TIlt, both Shrews Lads and Jackson. Poor Freddy on the left again otherwise not to many complaints. As Dozzell gets fitter we will see more of him
5

Nobbysnuts added 14:31 - Aug 4 Why isn't dozzell starting? God give strength. Sears? Really? Wake me up when it's over. Well at least we now know what's happening with waggy. Another season in the championship if we are lucky enough to survive. Depression has set in.👎
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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:31 - Aug 4 AC, I think Skuse might suprise us this year. No Mcshackles keeping him tied. Hope so anyway
2

Karlosfandangal added 14:32 - Aug 4 Bye bye Waghorn and looks as if Garner is going too. Jackson for one but please not Bogle for the other
2

AbujaBlue added 14:36 - Aug 4 Seem to remember it being stayed here that Dozzell is not quite up to 90 mins yet? If that's the case it makes sense to bring him on as a sub top breath some life into the game if needed.
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Nobbysnuts added 14:37 - Aug 4 Has sears got incriminating pictures of the whole Ipswich board or something? F##k me
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leftie1972 added 14:39 - Aug 4 Looks like a really young midfield (gulp).
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grinch added 14:49 - Aug 4 why is Sears in there either play him up front or put on bench he has natural wingers dozzel even unfit is better than sears
0

not_a_witty_name added 14:51 - Aug 4 Hurst stated that Sears was lacking in confidence. Sticking him on the bench or leaving him out of the team altogether won't help. Once he gets scoring it will come back and he could we'll see the kind of purple patch that he started his ITFC career with. COYBs.
1

DurhamTownFan added 14:54 - Aug 4 Playing out on the wing probably won't help either though willl it? For me he needs to go down a level and get his mojo back
2

floridaboy added 15:04 - Aug 4 Dozzell for Skuse. REALLY! Hurst has already stated - if people bother to read his comments of course - that Dozzell is nowhere fully fit to start in the championship. Makes so much sense after being out for nearly 12 months. If he started and did himself some harm the same idiots would be on here slagging off the manager for playing him.
0

lightingblue added 15:07 - Aug 4 Mick is covering our game on sky sports. Lol
1

Nobbysnuts added 15:09 - Aug 4 I'm not saying start dozzell but come on my granny would be better than sears. A lot better!!!!
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carlo88 added 15:10 - Aug 4 We need strikers urgently
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blu_dru added 15:16 - Aug 4 Nice assist for sears...
1

Nobbysnuts added 15:32 - Aug 4 I do love being right.x
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afcfee added 15:57 - Aug 4 Well I hate being proved wrong like that but Skuse is the weak link obviously not trusted as the holding midfielder and not good enough anywhere else. He's no where when we go forward and no where when we defend. I can't see why people are defending him hopefully things change second half but I doubt it.
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Nobbysnuts added 16:04 - Aug 4 1 shot on target. This is looking familiar. Did last season ever really end?
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runningout added 16:07 - Aug 4 Like to see Mowbray do well, but not too well :-)
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floridaboy added 16:15 - Aug 4 The first game is not even over and the moaners are out in force!
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TimmyH added 16:18 - Aug 4 Will be seriously pi*@ed off with the club if they sell both Waghorn and Garner (remember the adulation this time last season when we got them)...to me it would be a gamble for Harrison and to a degree Edwards (more of a winger) upfront with neither the fore mentioned beside them.
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