Winger Gwion Edwards will miss the first round Carabao Cup tie at Exeter City on Tuesday but Teddy Bishop and Danny Rowe are set to be in the squad for the first time this season and Flynn Downes is over the illness which saw him drop out of the party making the trip to Rotherham on Saturday.

“He’s due to train,” manager Paul Hurst said of Downes at his pre-match press conference. “I think he’s feeling better so he should be part of the squad tomorrow night.”

The Blues boss says Edwards is the only new injury problem ahead of the trip to Devon but with a problem which isn’t expected to keep him out of Saturday’s home match against Aston Villa.

“Just Gwion, he was feeling his quad a little bit at the end of last week going into the game but was fine,” he said.

“But he felt it again which was why he came off towards the end of the game on Saturday, so I don’t think we’ll be risking him tomorrow. But I don’t believe there should be any issue going into the weekend with that.”

Hurst says he will field a strong side against the League Two Grecians: “The team that I out out tomorrow night, I’d have no qualms about playing in a Championship game.

“That’s where I’m at, I’m not throwing any youth team players in or taking this game lightly, I want to win it. Whether we do or not we’ll see but the team I certainly believe will be good enough to win the game and that’s what we’ll be looking to do.”

Hurst says that although he’s not going to be drafting any untried youngsters into the squad he will have Teddy Bishop and Danny Rowe, two of the club’s long-term injured, returning to the travelling party, the pair having impressed and scored - twice in Bishop’s case - in Wednesday’s behind-closed-doors U23s friendly against Cambridge.

“Teddy Bishop and Danny Rowe will travel with us,” the Town manager confirmed. “We’ll see how they go in training today, how they’re feeling generally.

“And those two could possibly be involved. I haven’t made an absolute decision on that but they will certainly come into the thinking obviously from the bench if they are involved, not from the start, they’re not at that point yet.”

He added: “Teddy is very well thought of and from what I can see rightly so. Clearly he’s had issues with his injuries but someone that - and I guess it’s a big if given his history - if we can keep him fit will be a good player for us.

“I’m sure Teddy wants to be fit. I’m sure he’s sick of not being available or in the treatment room far too often for everyone’s liking, but certainly a player.

“So I’m really hoping that we can get him out on that training pitch on a regular basis and I think he can do well for us.

“Danny I know quite a bit about anyway, I really liked him when he was at Macclesfield before he got his move. He did well in the game that we had against Cambridge, showed what he’s good at.

“So again it’s again just trying to build on his fitness and getting to a point where he could really be in contention. Both players I think can add certain qualities to the squad and the team.”

Hurst is pleased to have more players becoming available for selection: “I want everyone fit. And while that makes my life more difficult in terms of picking the team and the subs, I think any manager would rather be in that position than have people in the treatment room. I’m sure both lads would be delighted to be involved if that’s the case.”

He says Emy Huws is a little further behind Bishop and Rowe: “Yes, he is. He didn’t train on Saturday, he just felt a little bit more fatigue than anything.

"I understand he’s back out with us again today but out of those lads we’ve been speaking about he’s probably the furthest away from a return to first-team action but hopefully still moving in the right direction.”

However, Hurst says Tom Adeyemi remains no nearer a comeback due to the Achilles injury he picked up in pre-season having got ver the hamstring problem which ended his 2017/18 prematurely.

“Still a long way off looking like a return,” he said. “Progress seems to have halted really, he’s done little bits of work but nothing more than that but he’s certainly not one that’s in my thoughts from a fitness point of view.”

Photo: TWTD

mathiemagic added 11:31 - Aug 13 Would certainly like to see a different formation used to allow us two strikers on the pitch as Harrison seems to work hard but doesnt look comfortable as the loan striker. A good win here will set us up to face Villa. The games coming up are extremely hard and would not like to face Norwich having not picked up a win. #IHWT
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BlueMachines added 11:38 - Aug 13 100% agree mahiemagic. 2 up top required!!
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Northstandveteran added 11:40 - Aug 13 Edwards out!
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OwainG1992 added 11:49 - Aug 13 Two up top and properly going for it here. Very much hope we can get a comprehensive win and get the mood back how it was a couple weeks ago.
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BlueySwede added 11:53 - Aug 13 I do wonder what the problem is with Adeyemi. Mick seemed frustrated with him, and I get the feeling that Hurst is too. Shame, I think there could be a decent player in him (when fit). Some success in any of the cups would be nice.
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christiand added 11:54 - Aug 13 Really believe Rowe could do a job for us on one of the flanks. He works hard for the team and has quality in his delivery. Just hope he can stay fit!! Good to see Bishop involved, this boy is a talented footballer. Hope he shows PH what he is all about.
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WaltonBlueNaze added 11:55 - Aug 13 Adeyemi will not play for us again - PH has made his mind up, I think we will end up paying his contract up! It must be more mental with Tom as opposed to physical.
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ldnj added 12:11 - Aug 13 I'm confused. Dozzell played pre-season and isn't sufficiently match fit so might need to be sent on loan but Bishop hasn't played but is likely to come on in a competitive match.
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ldnj added 12:12 - Aug 13 Hopefully Dozzell gets some time today as well ?
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ldnj added 12:13 - Aug 13 Tomorrow
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PortmanTerrorist added 12:17 - Aug 13 Sears/Jackson up top please. Should scare the pants of Exeter with their pace and classic big man, little man combo. Plus Kenlock and Emmanual at FBs. Not sure why they have not been given a crack. Knudsen may not be ours past Xmas with no contract extension, and Emmanuel will feel aggrieved a league 2 player has jumped ahead in pecking order....maybe rightly, but let them show PH what they can do..

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Swn98 added 12:39 - Aug 13 Oi Nsv your pinching my bait lol
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grinch added 12:48 - Aug 13 play 2 up front who we paid good money for leave the back line alone to have more game time together sears should just be squad player or go out on loan Kenlock is not as good as Knudsen and we need best players playing at moment play Bish but dont change to many we need to let them get used to each other big game Saturday so pick most who will play then in my book we need the team to gel and pretty quick looking at our fixtures coming

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JewellintheTown added 13:08 - Aug 13 Bit of a side track but does anyone know how much (if at all) the players mental state is factored into Medicals these days? Seems we have players that have physical skills but some players struggle mentally, both on and/ or off field for various reasons. Big pressure on their shoulders, especially those stepping up or on sick leave. Do we do any psychological "testing" before signing or just hope and get experts in to work with them afterwards? Mental attitude/ clarity etc must play a big part in the game, surely?

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oldblue added 13:12 - Aug 13 Jayden Stocklety winner !! you can just see it coming..however give us 10 games and I think we will be a force to be reckoned with ..
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Northstandveteran added 13:14 - Aug 13 Well Swn, After all the bites you got from your comments after Saturday's match, who could blame me? Just wish I could attend tomorrow. A friend of mine went to Exeter the last time and said the atmosphere was fantastic and the town fans gave Marcus Stewart a great ovation.
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itfcserbia added 13:47 - Aug 13 I think two up front in any combination made from Harrison/Sears/Jackson would be too much for any defense in the league, but none of them can play lone striker effectively from what I've seen so far.
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midastouch added 14:47 - Aug 13 Win, lose or draw I'm going to give Paul 100 days (since he took over) at least to see how the team is taking shape, as explained here Rotherham United 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report 11th Aug 2018 17:18 Michael Smith netted a 90th minute winner as Paul Hurst’s Blues were beaten 1-0 by his old club Rotherham United at the New York Stadium. Town had been on top for most of game and were denied two very strong penalty claims before the Millers’ striker hooked home following a corner. 157 and the previous page. The last minute goal on Saturday really felt like a kick in the nuts and I was quick to vent but it was a knee-jerk post-match reaction and I'm going to try and give Paul the benefit of his 100 days in the job (which will take him up till nearly the end of September) at least before voicing any further concerns. Hopefully after 100 days things will be looking more rosy than they did at 5pm on Saturday! Until then I'm going to just let things play out and see how I'm feeling about our early progress (or lack of it) come late September. Would love to see a cup run of some sort this season but given we haven't got a win on the board as yet I could understand if Paul kept back a couple of his key players (such as Edwards) in reserve so they are fresh for Saturday. COYB!!!

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Monkey_Blue added 15:01 - Aug 13 Great news about Bishop but I'm struggling to understand how he's close enough to full fitness to be on the bench and Dozzell isn't? Andre has played a lot more minutes than Bish and taken part fully in Pre-season???
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Monkey_Blue added 15:02 - Aug 13 Don't think Rowe will ever be more than back up at this level but still an extra senior body
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Popeye added 17:26 - Aug 13 Adeyemi will go down as one of the biggest waste of money pointless signings in towns history behind mark fish and ulrich le pen.
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