Dean Gerken makes a shock return in goal for the dropped Bartosz Bialkowski in a much-changed Town team facing Norwich in this afternoon’s East Anglian derby (KO midday). Loanees Jon Walters and Jordan Graham make their second Blues debuts, Matthew Pennington his first, while Jordan Spence returns at right-back.

Trevoh Chalobah, Ellis Harrison and Tayo Edun all drop to the bench alongside Bialkowski, while Toto Nsiala is suspended with manager Hurst making six changes from the team which lost 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday last week. Janoi Donacien is the loan player to miss out on a place in the 18 with only five permitted in a matchday squad.

The Blues look set to switch to a 4-4-2 system with Walters off Kayden Jackson up front and Graham and Gwion Edwards in the wide roles. For Norwich, ex-Blues striker Jordan Rhodes starts.

Town: Gerken, Spence, Pennington, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Edwards, Skuse, Nolan, Graham, Walters, Jackson. Subs: Bialkowski, Chalobah, Harrison, Ward, Downes, Edun, Kenlock.

Norwich: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Klose, Lewis, Tettey, Buendia, Pukki, Leitner, Hernandez, Rhodes. Subs: McGovern, Godfrey, Zimmermann, Stiepermann, Trybull, Srbeny, Thompson. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).

Photo: TWTD

alztar added 11:23 - Sep 2 Well we know there's no favourites now!! Very bold calls! Backing PH and the boys as always SMASH THEM!!
5

NSL added 11:23 - Sep 2 Man management not seen since the days of the dark lord. God help ITFC
0

iaintaylorx added 11:25 - Sep 2 I get that Bart hasn't started the season well, but he is still the best keeper in the league and to drop him for a game of this magnitude is the wrong call completely in my opinion. Not sure what message Bart will get from this and how his head might turn. Shame to also see Donacian miss out too. Spence is not good enough. Attacking wise, I like that alot! Also, when does Dozzel get a sniff? 30 minutes would do him the world of good!

2

speccybaz added 11:25 - Sep 2 Not against this team selection but just wondering whether Hurst thinks this is a Carabao Cup tie :)
4

trncbluearmy added 11:25 - Sep 2 PH has balls of steel,spot on decisions COYB
1

Taricco_Fan added 11:30 - Sep 2 That's quite a statement. Interesting.
3

blu_dru added 11:31 - Sep 2 Bart been at fault for several goals this season, can't keep doing that and expect to play on reputation alone
6

KiwiTractor added 11:33 - Sep 2 Crikey!
0

gosblue added 11:35 - Sep 2 Bart has looked edgy so far this season Today's result could come down to us getting away with the one howler that Gerkin makes in every game. That said I'm going for a strong town win. I think we are ready to take the next step. 3-1 Town COYB.
0

dalianwasexciting added 11:36 - Sep 2 Is Donacien injured? Bart was at fault for 3 so far this season but the defence collectively is equally culpable. Far from sure that Spence back in is a steadying influence. Not sure whether the brave changes are good or massively misguided and knee jerk
0

itfcserbia added 11:38 - Sep 2 Yes, drop Bart, drop Donacien, start Graham and Walters, two up front, 100% behind PH on all this! COYB
1

Stato added 11:39 - Sep 2 Dropping Bart is a massive mistake regardless of the result
-3

dalianwasexciting added 11:40 - Sep 2 itfcserbia - have you seen Spence and Gerks over the years? Here is hoping that they prove me wrong. Good with Graham, Walters and 2 up.....but not sure about the back.
0

DurhamTownFan added 11:41 - Sep 2 Took MM a few years to work out that BART was head and shoulders above Gerken. Now PH seems to be making the same mistake. I get that Bart hasn't been his best, but is this really the right game for that decision? Especially given how Gerken is not really renowned for his command of the box...
0

peteswindon added 11:41 - Sep 2 So much for letting all these young hungry players gel !!!!! Not sure he has a clue what he is doing looks like he is now panicking. In two hours he will either be a hero or the fans will start to turn on him. But as always COYB
3

JewellintheTown added 11:42 - Sep 2 Not sure what the logic of this is, other than mistakes Barts been making. Better the devil you know, though, as Gerkins going to take some games to get back into it and this isn't the best game to start that with. Bart then off the boil & needs game time to get upto speed again. Even with mistakes, I'd stick with Bart until the next game, even if this lesson might get his head back in the game.

0

TimmyH added 11:43 - Sep 2 Sweet Jesus! Graham and Pennington starting!?!...particularly Graham and Bart/Chelobah dropped!...best of luck boys. Brave brave calls from our manager.
0

floridaboy added 11:47 - Sep 2 Love Hurst. No favourites. Don't perform get dropped. Yes very brave but at the end of the day it a game of football. 2-1 Town for me!!
1

Miles added 11:48 - Sep 2 Love Bart but shows nobody is a guaranteed starter which is exactly what's needed in this team!
2

bluelady added 11:48 - Sep 2 None of us know what's going on in Barts head, maybe he just isn't in a good place right now for whatever reason and so a major Derby was maybe one step too far and he needs the international break to recoup. We can all have an opinion but at the end of the day none of us know what's going on mentally or what's happening on the training pitch. Good on you PH for having the balls to make Such a change and let's hope Bart comes out of it stronger and ready to be no 1 again.

4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:55 - Sep 2 Wow! PH had to leave out a loanee. Bit surprised it's Donacien as we're going to get trouble down our right-hand side. Still, if this comes off, PH will be king.
0

itfcserbia added 11:55 - Sep 2 dalianwasexciting - Of course I have seen them, but this has nothing to do with Gerken and Spence. Bart needed dropping and we can only hope that will wake him up and he's not the one ready to sit out the new improved contract. Regarding Donacien - I think he's the weakest player we have signed this summer and is some pace off the Championship, and if one loanee needed to miss out so we can have two proper wingers - that's him. Spence is known to have a good game now and then, let's hope one is now.

2

hopefulblue added 12:47 - Sep 2 jon nolan is one of the worst players ive seen.out of his depth
-5

hopefulblue added 12:51 - Sep 2 barts been garbage this season,why should he keep starting ? might give him a kick up the arse.
4

Nthsuffolkblue added 12:54 - Sep 2 Bossman, Bart clearly needs a rest. This week and the international break will clearly give him a chance for that. He will be back to his best when he returns.
0

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