Town have made five changes for this afternoon’s home game against Championship leaders Coventry City.

Having made five switches of personnel for the 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Tuesday, the Blues return to the team which lost 2-1 at Oxford United eight days ago with Darnell Furlong, Sindre Walle Egeli, Marcelino Nunez, Jaden Philogene and George Hirst returning to the XI.

Ashley Young, Kasey McAteer, Chuba Akpom, Jack Clarke and Ivan Azon drop to the bench alongside Sammie Szmodics, who makes his return following knee surgery with Ben Johnson missing out on a place in the 20-man squad.

Coventry, seven points clear at the top following Middlesbrough’s 4-1 win at Hull City last night, make one enforced change from the team which came from behind to beat Charlton 3-1 at home last weekend with midfielder Victor Torp dropping out despite having travelled.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden comes into the side, probably at right wing-back, suggesting a switch to a three-man backline.

Winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto misses a second game due to a concussion, but forward Haji Wright is back on the bench following a thigh strain.

Former Town defender Luke Woolfenden is also among the subs, along with two keepers, Ben Wilson and Oscar Varney.

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

Coventry: Rushworth, Kesler-Hayden, Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva, Grimes (c), Eccles, Rudoni, Mason-Clark, Simms. Subs: Wilson, Varney, Allen, Wright, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Woolfenden, Brau, Andrews. Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).

Photo: Reuters