Blues boss Paul Lambert has handed 18-year-old Jack Lankester his full debut and Teddy Bishop his first start of the season as he makes four changes for this afternoon’s game at Nottingham Forest.

The academy product, the first player born in the 2000s to appear for the Town first team having made four sub appearances, looks set to start on the right of the front three with Freddie Sears - who will be looking to add to his four goals in four games since Lambert took charge - and Kayden Jackson, who comes into the team for Jordan Roberts, who drops to the bench.

There are also changes in midfield where Bishop, whose last start was on Boxing Day last year, and Grant Ward, making his first appearance under Lambert, come in for Trevoh Chalobah, who is on the bench, and Flynn Downes, who misses out on a place in the 18.

Skipper Luke Chambers will make his 300th appearance for the Blues against his old club in an unchanged back four.

Forest make three changes with Michael Hefele in for the suspended Tobias Figueiredo, while Adlene Guedioura and Gil Dias take over from Claudio Yacob and Matty Cash, who drop to the bench.

Ex-Blues loanee Jack Colback starts, while former striker Daryl Murphy is on the bench having returned from illness.

Nottingham Forest: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Dawson (c), Hefele, Robinson, Guedioura, Colback, Dias, Carvalho, Lolley, Grabban. Subs: Steele, Murphy, Osborn, Cash, Janko, Yacob, Ansarifard.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Pennington, Knudsen, Skuse, Ward, Bishop, Lankester, Sears, Jackson. Subs: Gerken, Donacien, Chalobah, Nolan, Rowe, Roberts, Dozzell. Referee: James Linington (Newport IoW).

Photo: TWTD

jabberjackson added 14:27 - Dec 1 like the positive journalism Phil Wish everyone could be as optimistic! "Freddie Sears - who will be adding to his four goals in four games since Lambert took charge "
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Devereuxxx added 14:27 - Dec 1 "The academy product, the first player born in the 2000s to appear for the Town first team, looks set to start on the right of the front three with Freddie Sears - who will be adding to his four goals in four games since Lambert took charge..." Glad you're so certain Freddie's going to score!
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jabberjackson added 14:27 - Dec 1 Come on Jack - make a name for yourself!
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FreddySteady added 14:28 - Dec 1 Let's have a go eh? Up and at 'em!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 14:29 - Dec 1 Does Phil know something we don't? Shoukd I be having a flutter on Freddie to score?
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TimmyH added 14:32 - Dec 1 Nice to see Lankester get a full debut but a wee bit surprised Spence hasn't been dropped in fact nobody from the back 4 has been after Wednesday's display!
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Stato added 14:34 - Dec 1 Delighted to our own young home grown talent in the starting 11 but surprised to see same back 4 when Lambert himself said we need to cut out basic defensive errors.
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Jonnosdreadlocks added 14:40 - Dec 1 Most exciting talented player we have produced since Kieron Dyer. Good luck fella, hope to see you in an ITFC shirt for years and the great escape starts today!
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stewartm added 14:40 - Dec 1 I was all excited until I read that Spence has not been dropped.
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braveblue added 14:44 - Dec 1 Good news. But same defence?
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portmanteau added 14:50 - Dec 1 Have a hunch Forest will be too complacent and will not take us seriously enough. Perhaps a surprise Town win is on the cards or even a draw.
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brendenward35 added 14:53 - Dec 1 Spense shouldnt be anywhere near this team. Forrest will score for the fun of it against that defense. Not quite sure what PL is thinking
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norfolkbluey added 14:55 - Dec 1 I think all our supporters are amazed that the defence has not been changed in particular Spence! Still the boss knows best and after all he hasn't much to choose from. I suspect he (Spence) may be on a yellow card. It would be great to get a win at Forrest as our record up there has been poor. Been there several times and we have lost! Lets hope our Shire Horse outperforms theirs today.

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PhilTWTD added 15:00 - Dec 1 Ha, I've no inside information from Freddie honest! Overly positive error amended!
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TB42 added 15:58 - Dec 1 Accepting that the main problem highlighted by PL has been the defensive errors it does surprise me to see that the only area unchanged is .... the defence?? Hope that does not prove to be an error in judgement on his part.
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portmanteau added 16:05 - Dec 1 Could happen second half.....
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