Sindre Walle Egeli is handed his full Blues debut as Town boss Kieran McKenna makes three changes from the side which started at Blackburn for this afternoon’s game against Portsmouth at Portman Road.

The 19-year-old Norwegian comes in wide on the right for Kasey McAteer, who drops to the bench.

Sammie Szmodics returns to the side as the number 10 with Chuba Akpom also among the substitutes.

One of the changes is enforced with Jacob Greaves suspended for his red card in last week’s abandoned game. Cedric Kipre, who came off the bench at Ewood Park following the dismissal, makes his league debut alongside skipper Dara O’Shea at the centre of the defence.

Portsmouth make five changes from the team which was beaten 2-0 at home by Sheffield Wednesday last week with former Norwich youngster Josh Murphy missing out again through injury and on-loan Blues forward Conor Chaplin ineligible against his parent club.

Keeper Josef Bursik makes his Pompey debut, while Josh Knight, Luke Le Roux, Mark Kosznovszky and Yang Min-hyeok make their first Championship starts. Ex-Town midfielder Andre Dozzell is in Pompey’s midfield.

Town: Palmer, Furlong, O’Shea (c), Kipre, Davis, Matusiwa, Cajuste, Walle Egeli, Szmodics, Philogene, Hirst. Subs: Walton, Johnson, Young, Taylor, Núñez, McAteer, J Clarke, Akpom, Azon.

Portsmouth: Bursik; Swanson, Poole, Knight, Ogilvie, Dozzell, Le Roux, Minhyeok, Kosznovszky, Segecic, Bishop (c). Subs: Killip, Williams, Devlin, Bowat, Matthews, Pack, Swift, Bianchini, Kirk. Referee: Andrew Kitchen (Durham).

Photo: Matchday Images

Len_Brennan added 14:21 - Sep 27 If Baggott is fit, might we be better off with him on the bench than Johnson? If he's in the registered 25 & our only available replacement centre half today, surely he's worth a place as one of the 9 substitutes? Young can cover the full back spots.
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parhamblue added 14:31 - Sep 27 Wow. Beginning of a Town legend?
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TimmyH added 14:36 - Sep 27 Wish Egeli all the best on his debut and personally feel he deserves in place of McAteer whom hasn't quite done it for me (so far) - expecting 3 points!
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Rimsy added 14:44 - Sep 27 Excited to see Egeli get his chance. Don't think McAteer has done anything wrong and is a valuable squad member. Comfortable win today.
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AlpineBlue added 14:57 - Sep 27 McAteer looks like there's a very good player there. It's just been so frustrating to see him get in such good positions and then make a wrong pass, or not run at the defender. The decision making has been lacking, but he gets into great positions.
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