Omari Hutchinson and Leif Davis are absent from the Blues squad facing AJ Auxerre in their final pre-season friendly this evening (KO 6pm local time, 5pm BST).

Davis is understood to have a minor knock, while Hutchinson’s absence is unexplained. Brentford were reported yesterday to be ready to renew their interest in the Blues’ forward.

Nathan Broadhead is back on the bench having been left out of the squad which faced Charlton at Colchester with Wrexham having made an approach but with the Blues still to accept an offer.

Harry Clarke (leg injury) and Wes Burns (recovering from ACL) remain unavailable.

Alex Palmer starts in goal with Ben Johnson and Conor Townsend the full-backs and Dara O’Shea, again wearing the captain’s armband, and Jacob Greaves the centre-halves.

Azor Matusiwa and Jack Taylor are in the middle of midfield with Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics and Jaden Philogene the trio behind lone striker George Hirst.

Town: Palmer, Johnson, O’Shea (c), Greaves, Townsend, Matusiwa, Taylor, J Clarke, Szmodics, Philogene, Hirst. Subs: Walton, Button, Woolfenden, Baggott, Kipre, Barbrook, Humphreys, Young, Ogbene, Chaplin, Broadhead, Al-Hamadi.

Photo: TWTD

BotesdaleBlue added 16:53 - Aug 2 No doubt we'll find out about Hutchinson during the post match interview. I think most us can guess the reason.
2

itfc2024 added 16:59 - Aug 2 think we know why Hutchinson ain't playing suppose he's doing what all the players are doing now a days and refusing to play because he thinks he's better than he really is but hey ho I think the club is better off without him
-11

Crawfordsboot added 17:07 - Aug 2 2024 or it could be that Town don’t want to risk an injury when they are set to receive up to £40mill Truth is we don’t know so your negative uninformed guesses are worth diddly squat
15

scooby added 17:18 - Aug 2 50 million or don't bother selling. We know Brentford have money. If they want him that badly they will end up paying it. We have nothing to lose so hold out. Worst case scenario he stays with us. I mean wouldn't we all be gutted about thaf( not)
2

blues1 added 17:40 - Aug 2 Scrooby. Apart from the fact from all reports, we rate him at £40m. So why would we hold out for £50m? The worst case scenario would be that he stays, is unhappy about it, and we have a player who doesnt want to be here, which could upset the whole morale around the squad. Would like to think he'd just accept it and get on with it, but doesnt seem to be the way with players nowadays.

2

blues1 added 17:44 - Aug 2 Itfc2024. Of course, you could be right about him refusing to play but I find it unlikely, considering he played on Tuesday night. More likely Brentford have made another offer and dont want us to risk him getting injured. But speculating about it is pointless really. Sure the truth of the situation will be made known in due course
3

ImAbeliever added 17:50 - Aug 2 This week gets better and better lol. Can’t wait for the season to start though.
0

Wonky added 18:08 - Aug 2 He's never been anything less than professional. I sincerely doubt that this is petulance.
2

guentchev123 added 18:14 - Aug 2 agree Wonky - Omari played the other night and isn't the type to be petulant. Standard practice for a club to leave out a player who is subject to a bid (Hayden Hackney was left out of the Boro team the other day when we put bid in)
1

TimmyH added 18:41 - Aug 2 Hutchinson is on his way...
1

Monkey_Blue added 18:45 - Aug 2 I very much doubt Hutchinson has refused to play and it’s not like he’s on the Verge of Joining Real Madrid so if he ends up staying here I don’t think we will see him sulk. It does make sense if we think Brentford might be getting to a fee we would sell for to not risk him in a friendly. However if he’s here next Friday which is looking unlikely, he will be in the squad for Birmingham I would bet.

0

BobbyBell added 19:03 - Aug 2 I had expected Hutchinson to go but not to Brentford. That's not a move I would have expected him to want. One more good season here and one of the big clubs would probably have come for him.
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls