Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that he will field an entirely changed XI in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup second round tie at Crystal Palace, a side which he says will be the youngest team he has named in his 25 years as a manager.

McCarthy says one or two of his senior players picked up minor problems in Saturday’s 2-0 home victory over Brentford, but says they wouldn’t have featured at Selhurst Park in any case.

“Bart took a knock but Bart wouldn’t be playing tomorrow anyway,” he said. “Wardy got a kick on his calf.

“David McGoldrick’s wife is expecting tomorrow, I believe, so he’s with his family, as you’d expect.

“So that leaves me eight fit first-team players, none of whom will be involved. Four defenders, that’s what I’ve got. None of them will be playing because I can’t risk a sending off or an injury.

“So it’ll be all-change, every one of them. I’m not going to apologise for that because I have to do it, but if you are coming tomorrow expect to see the kids and that’s the way it’s going to be.

“And if you are coming, come and support them and give them the support that you give to the first-teamers who would play normally.”

He added: “It’s not sacrificing [the cup] for the league, it’s sacrificing it for the good of players who just keep playing.

“I haven’t got enough, I’ve got so many injuries. Emyr Huws was going to play, he was going to speak to you guys, but he’s gone in for treatment again today. That just tells you how many injuries I’ve got.

“And it’s important, we’ve got a home game on Saturday and if we could win it, it’ll be tough because Fulham are a good side, it would mean a great month and a great start for us. I doubt we’re going to win the Carabao Cup anyway, I just haven’t got the squad to cope with it.”

Regarding Huws, he added: “I’m assuming [it's his achilles] because he just said, ‘Gaffer, I’ve got to go in’, so I’m assuming that’s the case. He went in and I’ve not been in the physio room to check.

"Assumption is the mother of all cock-ups but it’s a pretty easy one to assume.”

Was he willing to give an idea of his team? “Flynn Downes will be playing because he’s spoken to you. Gerks [Dean Gerken] will be playing, he’ll be the captain. Tristan Nydam will be playing and after that you’ll have to find out.”

McCarthy also confirmed that Bersant Celina would make his second start for the Blues, his first having come in the first round victory at Luton.

In addition to Downes, Nydam and Celina, Ben Morris, Pat Webber, Luke Woolfenden, Chris Smith, George Fowler, Ben Folami, Conor McKendry, Michael Crowe, Adam McDonnell, Monty Patterson and Shane McLoughlin are all likely to be in the squad which travels.

If they’re involved, Morris, Webber, Smith, Fowler, Folami, McKendry, sub keeper Crowe, Patterson and McLoughlin will be making their senior Blues debuts. Woolfenden will make his full debut if he starts having featured as a sub at Luton.

Tom Adeyemi is still having treatment on his calf injury, while Tommy Smith (hamstring), Luke Chambers (ankle), Adam Webster (ankle), Teddy Bishop (hernia operation) and Andre Dozzell (cruciate) remain sidelined.

Photo: TWTD

Billericay12 added 15:47 - Aug 21 We all moan that the youngsters don't get a chance. Well they have now ! It will be a good experience and we should support them. We won't win the cup anyway and given the start we have had we need to get Saturday out of the way, hopefully with another win and then we have a couple of weeks to get a few more fit or a loan signing in to cover.
5

Pendejo added 15:48 - Aug 21 Too late to register Titus? Good luck to the young Boys in Blue tomorrow at Paliss. I may still go out of curiosity.
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LondonBlue73 added 15:54 - Aug 21 Absolutely the right decision to protect the first team and to also give the youngsters a chance at a more competitive level. For those of you considering now not going, lets please turn up and support the future, Crystal Palace also appear likely to field a second string team. 12th Man I always feel everyone is entitled to an opinion - it would be nice in this instance for yours to be explained with the details of what you see as an alternative option. If MM played any of the back four or the strikers and we picked up even one more injury it would make Fulham almost impossible unless others are back, the problem is the news on Huws who appeared to be close to a return does not sound very good. I will be there having roped in two mates as we live in London and also dragging my daughters, might be less entertaining than Millwall, Birmingham and Brentford (didn't go to Barnsley) but still proud to be a blue.

4

TractorBeezer added 16:15 - Aug 21 I agree with you Mick .....even though I still recall Lincoln away last season. This is different. Let's go and win anyway. I bet that the lads are pumped!
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Ferguson added 16:21 - Aug 21 Fiver on the lads to nick a win. Well you've got to have your dreams haven't you ! Wenbley here we come ! COYB
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TimmyH added 16:27 - Aug 21 Agree with Mick in this instance...we'd all love to have a cup run but the situation regarding injuries and illness is not great to put it mildly. Saying that we do need a 'sprinkling' of senior players starting, you can't let first time debutant's to be hung out to dry.
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Blandford added 16:32 - Aug 21 Very honest appraisal of the current situation. To MM's credit he has taken the opportunity to explain his decision and give fans the choice of either supporting the players or giving the match a miss. Tomorrow's team will be made up of players who are used to working together and each and every one of them has the chance to prove they can handle the pressure of first team football. Considering how decimated the squad is at the moment I would be delighted if a few of the young lads managed to convince MM that they were worthy additions to the match day squad. Good luck lads.

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blue75 added 16:36 - Aug 21 Who knows a few of these youngsters who are not ready for league games according to McCarthy might just prove him wrong against prem reserves!!!!
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LWNR2013 added 16:39 - Aug 21 When communicated like that ... makes sense.
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clint_eastwood added 16:44 - Aug 21 Maybe the kids will win! You'll never know in football. Perhaps we'll get 2 penalties and we'll park the bus.
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cat added 16:51 - Aug 21 Today's whipping boy is non other than 12th man, why, because he posts his disappointment about purchasing a ticket to support his team, (yes support his team!!) then hears the news that there is not one first teamer in it, I get that!! Call yourself the positive posters, now that's a frigging laugh! I cannot disagree with MM's reasoning on the team selected, because on 'THIS' occasion there's no grounds to do so, the injury list says it all, but it's still disappointing non the less. Yungblue - I can see where your coming from, scratch the surface and all the old problems are still there. MM's had plenty of chances to get supporters (like myself) back onside, more so now we're unbeaten, but continues to show nothing but utter comptempt for ITFC fans, whether you back him or not, this blokes no good for our club imho. Mick's philosophy is "if you win games the fans are happy" and it don't matter how you do it. Anyone thinking that MM will change long term are deluded, and my opinion is he will revert back to type. It's easy when your winning, the test will come when the shi!t hits the FANS!! so to speak!! Mick's his own man, he says it enough, and won't change for JACK!!

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trevski added 16:55 - Aug 21 To be honest I do like Micks thinking. With the amount of first team players that we already currently have injured, most of which are out for a few weeks, we cannot afford any more injuries that may affect the way we play in the league at the moment. But I am actually looking forward to seeing how all the youngsters play and give them a great chance to prove themselves. Look at what happened last year when we played a fringe squad against a multi-million pound Man Utd. Yes we lost but I thought they all played really well. Here is what I would go with -------------------Gerken Woolfenden-Webber-Smith-Fowler ---Rowe-Patterson-Nydam-Celina ------------------Downes -------------------Morris Or maybe McDonnell or McLoughlin in place of Rowe Then on the bench I would have a couple of senior players such as Waghorn or Garner and Skuse

1

BlueMachines added 17:03 - Aug 21 12th man is a troll. Has no one else noticed? Don't rise to its bait.
1

Pilgrimblue added 17:15 - Aug 21 This is a win win situation. Give up and coming plus non regulars a chance and see what they have to offer. I liked it when it was the Worthless Cup as it seemed apt as most Clubs will do exactly the same and rest players etc. IF we draw or win then it'll mean maybe more players ready for 1st team.
0

freddie1990 added 17:24 - Aug 21 I am going tomorrow, and knowing that we are watching a team of kids does now put me off. In fact, it is even more exciting to support our future talent and show palace what we are about
0

Hoppersblue10 added 17:25 - Aug 21 Fully back MM on this, firstly he has confirmed the day before it will be a youth team, secondly and more importantly our injury problem was there for all to see when the draw was made, anyone with a bit of common sense would have known that this was a likely scenario, especially as the injury problem has got worse over the past week and a half not better. Good luck to the boys grab the opportunity with both hands......My son is going, he is really looking forward to seeing the likes of Wolfy & Chris Smith, he played in the same team as them for a couple of seasons when they were all knee high to a grasshopper!

1

benno1uk added 17:27 - Aug 21 This is the right thing to do given the state of the squad and our great start to the season.
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jas0999 added 17:29 - Aug 21 Winning breeds confidence. I'd have named a stronger side, but nonetheless can see reasons for it. My only criticism would still be squad depth. Big shortfall on last season.
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runningout added 17:40 - Aug 21 Bad move in my bog state opinion Mr McCarthy.
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Europablue added 17:42 - Aug 21 I'd never hope for us to lose a game, but I won't be at all disappointed by a loss. You never know, they could surprise us. It depends on whether Palace will try and bank a win or focus on the league. We certainly don't have enough first team players available to handle cup and league.
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Ipswichbusiness added 17:57 - Aug 21 I would love us to put out the first team ... but it's on the treatment table.
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Swn98 added 18:36 - Aug 21 still looking forward to another trip to south london also hope Patterson starts as he looked a quality player in the Making when i saw him play against Kings Lynn.
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Billericay12 added 18:40 - Aug 21 We all moan that the youngsters don't get a chance. Well they have now ! It will be a good experience and we should support them. We won't win the cup anyway and given the start we have had we need to get Saturday out of the way, hopefully with another win and then we have a couple of weeks to get a few more fit or a loan signing in to cover.
0

cornishblu added 18:40 - Aug 21 ....got to beleive that those who are not disappointed by this decision aren't going !!....how many times do we look at winning being a momentum thing.....our only hope is that this encourages Palace to do the same and that it ends up being two U23 sides that play against each other and we nick it.....if the U23,s were playing it would only cost a £5 to get in...,how can it then be justified to charge £20 ....if you paid £100 to fly abroad you,d be a bit miffed of your transport turned out to be two £5 quid helium balloons !! COYB

1

oldelsworthyfan added 18:40 - Aug 21 With our list of injuries, who could blame MM?
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