Aaron Drinan has been handed his Town debut as the Blues get their season under way with a behind-closed-doors Carabao Cup tie against Bristol Rovers at Portman Road.

The Irish U21 international, who has featured for the first team throughout pre-season having spent much of his time out on loan since joining Town in January 2018, is the central striker with Freddie Sears on his left and Alan Judge on his right in the Blues’ now familiar 4-3-3 formation.

In midfield, Jon Nolan appears to have replaced Flynn Downes, who was due to play before being given a few days off to clear his head following the interest from Crystal Palace, alongside Andre Dozzell and Teddy Bishop.

In defence, skipper Luke Chambers is at right-back with Kane Vincent-Young and Janoi Donacien both injured, while Stephen Ward makes his Town debut at left-back. Toto Nsiala and Luke Woolfenden are the centre-halves with Tomas Holy in goal.

New frontman Oli Hawkins, who is behind with training, is on the bench, as is young central defender Corrie Ndaba, who is also yet to make his Blues debut having only been on the bench on four previous occasions.

Town are without strikers James Norwood and Kayden Jackson, and midfielder Cole Skuse due to injury, while Armando Dobra is away with the Albania U21s.

Former Town midfielder Ed Upson is on the bench for the Pirates, who start without a recognised out and out striker with Sam Nicholson and Cameron Hargreaves playing off Jayden Mitchell-Lawson in a 3-4-2-1 system.

Owner Marcus Evans was on the pitch watching the warm-up and chatting with general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill and first-team coach Matt Gill, and later manager Paul Lambert.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Woolfenden, Ward, Dozzell, Nolan, Bishop, Judge, Sears, Drinan. Subs: Cornell, Wilson, Edwards, Lankester, Ndaba, Hawkins, Huws.

Bristol Rovers: Van Stappershoef, Little, Leahy, Grant, Ehmer (c), Westbrooke, Mitchell-Lawson, Nicholson, Kilgour, Hargreaves, Baldwin. Subs: Andre Jr, Hare, Harries, Kelly, Upson, Walker, Ayunga. Referee: Will Finnie (Luton).

Photo: Matchday Images

KernowBluey added 14:28 - Sep 5 Glad to see Drinan given his full debut, COYB!
2

afcfee added 14:29 - Sep 5 Really need to do the buisness at least winning the battles in first 2 thirds with such strong team or will be massive confidence dent
1

irishtim added 14:34 - Sep 5 Hopefully Drinan can make an impact.
1

Dockerblue added 14:39 - Sep 5 So whoever's is playing well keeps the shirt? Why is the first pumping donkey playing then after his faux pas v West Ham. Oh yeah he was suffering from rustiness!!! What a joke. Nothing will change at this club till he,s gone
-4

Nobbysnuts added 15:42 - Sep 5 Fist pumper first name down on the team sheet as normal...... oh how things have NOT changed.
-2

Icantbelieveyousaidt added 15:49 - Sep 5 Dockerblue and Nobbysnuts. Mr Chambers plays because folk far more knowledgeable about football than you and others on TWTD, happen to know that he is worth is place. I think you both have a lot to learn and are typical examples of verbal bullies. Stick to your day jobs....
3

Saxonblue74 added 15:57 - Sep 5 2-0, and it's the "fist pumping donkey"! Good on you skipper👍
2

afcfee added 15:58 - Sep 5 Fist pumper scores
2

afcfee added 16:00 - Sep 5 Wait till he faces a team with strikers till you get too ahead of yourselves
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:22 - Sep 5 So far, so good. Let's keep it going. There will be harder games. COYB.
0

Uppatown90 added 16:26 - Sep 5 Backing up Icantbelieveyousaidt's point.. Read the article!! KVY and donacien are out.. so your 2 natural right backs are out. The only other 2 options in that position would be Wilson or Edwards.. Chambers is far more experienced in the right back position than the other two.. makes sense to pick him. Stop moaning for the sake of moaning and back your team!
2

Steelmonkey added 17:38 - Sep 5 Does anyone think perhaps we played better today because the players hadn't got you moaning minis going on at them all throughout the game berating their every move that didn't quite come off.
3

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