Keeper Christian Walton returns to the Town XI for the first time since the opening week of the season as Kieran McKenna makes four changes for this evening’s home game against Chelsea.

Walton replaces Aro Muric, who is on the bench, for his second Premier League appearance having started the opening match against Liverpool and the Carabao Cup defeat to AFC Wimbledon a few days later.

Wes Burns comes in wide on the right for Ben Johnson, who is also among the subs, with McKenna once again naming Dara O’Shea, Luke Woolfenden and Jacob Greaves in his backline, with Leif Davis at left-back.

Skipper Sam Morsy returns in the centre of midfield alongside Jens Cajuste with Kalvin Phillips on the bench having started his first game in almost two months at Arsenal on Friday.

Ahead of them, Nathan Broadhead is handed his first Premier League start having impressed off the bench in recent weeks with Sammie Szmodics dropping to the bench, while Omari Hutchinson faces his old club. Liam Delap is the number nine.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has made five changes to his team following the 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham on Boxing Day with second-choice keeper Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku coming into the XI and Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson all dropping to the bench.

Town: Walton, Burns, O'Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Morsy (c), Cajuste, Hutchinson, Broadhead, Delap. Subs: Muric, Johnson, Townsend, Phillips, Taylor, Chaplin, Szmodics, J Clarke, Al-Hamadi.

Chelsea: Jorgensen, Disasi, Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Fernandez (c), Madueke, Felix, Nkunku, Palmer, Caicedo. Subs: Sanchez, Neto, Jackson, Sancho, James, Gusto, Acheampong, Guiu, Veiga. Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire). VAR: Michael Oliver.

Photo: Matchday Images

Rimsy added 19:13 - Dec 30 At last. Doubt Muric will play for us in the league again. Just put it down as an error signing him and move on.
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Rimsy added 19:14 - Dec 30 Broadhead also well deserved start
10

Rimsy added 19:19 - Dec 30 Bring on the down votes, he's been a disaster.
2

Leejames99 added 19:20 - Dec 30 Worst team selection of the season so far, a travesty that Burns gets in this team at Right Back, Broadhead starting over Szmodicks and J Clarke, Morsey back in for Phillips and worst one Walton for Muric, it is all but a league 1 team who got comfortably beat by Maidstone. I will be so happy to be proved wrong but I fear our biggest defeat of the season 1-5 with Pamer hatrick and Omari consolation goal and a sending off for Town or a miracle will happen early Delap goal, shut up shop, early subs and 1- 0 win. In Keiron we trust but thus is just baffling. At least moaners got their league 1 favourites back, I fear this will be a exhibition game now but we live in hope. COYB

-28

Leejames99 added 19:20 - Dec 30 Worst team selection of the season so far, a travesty that Burns gets in this team at Right Back, Broadhead starting over Szmodicks and J Clarke, Morsey back in for Phillips and worst one Walton for Muric, it is all but a league 1 team who got comfortably beat by Maidstone. I will be so happy to be proved wrong but I fear our biggest defeat of the season 1-5 with Pamer hatrick and Omari consolation goal and a sending off for Town or a miracle will happen early Delap goal, shut up shop, early subs and 1- 0 win. In Keiron we trust but thus is just baffling. At least moaners got their league 1 favourites back, I fear this will be a exhibition game now but we live in hope. COYB

-19

DifferentGravy added 19:21 - Dec 30 Lets go! COYB!
5

TimmyH added 19:24 - Dec 30 Agree Broadhead deserves a start but Burns back in?...bit surprised that Muric has now been benched after a reasonable against Arsenal. Where is Burgess?
0

jim442 added 19:35 - Dec 30 As above. Hopefully I’ll be proved wrong but oh wow, what is that selection? Walton is barely a league one keeper, Burns who has been great at lower levels is not a premier league right back and all of Morseys passion, leadership and commitment doesn’t make up for lack of pace and insistence to pass the ball sideways and backwards. Phillips must be distraught after a very solid game at Arsenal. Pleased for Broady though.

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Leejames99 added 19:40 - Dec 30 Not being negative I just think something is amiss when all our signings are on bench it's is baffling a league one keeper and some those starting Burns at Right Back etc, Morsy back in ridicul9ys, Broadhead I get but keeper and Burnsc, it's all a bit silly now. I'm happy to be proved wrong but I really do think this is a drubbing tonight but let's see, I'm happy to be totally wrong, they already saying on telly it's madness and risky! They are right!

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Kickingblock added 19:40 - Dec 30 For crying out loud. Just support the guys who for whatever reason have been selected. Fingers crossed.
9

Suffolkboy added 20:20 - Dec 30 Do we have some massive hangovers and headaches since Christmas? Boy some ‘ supporters’ are grumpy unbelievers ! Go for it boys !
6

Leejames99 added 20:35 - Dec 30 I Stand corrected Walton is doing well and Broadhead, credit where credit due! Doing well, about time got some luck, COYB
1

Linkboy13 added 23:38 - Dec 30 Morsy was always going to come in at the expense of Phillips who did alright against Arsenal but Morsy offers more to the team and has been one of the few success this season.
0

Linkboy13 added 16:11 - Dec 31 Keiran McKenna's selection spot on great minds think alike. Don't understand the hype about Phillips came on as substitute and just strolled around reputation dosent get you games im afraid needs to understand his career is slipping away and pull his finger out.
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