Central defender Drissa Diallo is included in the reserves side facing Charlton at Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm). French loanee Jimmy Juan, Pablo Couñago, James Scowcroft and Kevin Horlock are also in an unusually strong second string side.

Diallo, whose contract ends in the summer, has been out of first team action since before Christmas with a hamstring problem. The Guinean international played 45 minutes of a reserve game with Leicester in February but subsequently suffered a setback and has not been involved since.

Jimmy Juan's loan period from Monaco has been similarly injury-hit, a foot problem having kept him out of action recently.

In addition to the senior players, Charlie Sheringham, James Krause and Danny Haynes were all used as subs in the FA Youth Cup semi-final at Spurs last night while Fraser Beveridge remained on the bench. Shane Supple, a sub tonight, played the full 90 minutes against Tottenham.

Krause and Sheringham could be in the starting line-up for the U18s in the first leg of the final against Southampton on Monday, coming in for Sammy Moore and Billy Clarke who were injured at White Hart Lane.

Central defender Gerard Nash continues his recovery from knee surgery, while short-term signing Dean McDonald will hope to impress enough to win a more permanent deal. The former Arsenal man has been given until the end of the season to prove himself.

Reserves: Lewis Price, Gerard Nash, James Krause, Kevin Horlock, Drissa Diallo, Ben Patten, Dean McDonald, Jimmy Juan, Pablo Couñago, James Scowcroft, Danny Haynes, Fraser Beveridge, Shane Supple, Adam Atay, Daniel Flack, Charlie Sheringham.

Photo: Action Images

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