Town boss Mick McCarthy makes four changes to his team for this afternoon’s game at Aston Villa with Jonas Knudsen, who is back from his one-match ban, Freddie Sears, Dominic Iorfa and Grant Ward all returning to the XI.

Myles Kenlock, Jordan Spence and Bersant Celina drop to the bench while David McGoldrick is out for a month due to the gash to the groin he suffered during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday. The Blues again look set to line up in their 4-2-3—1 system.

Emyr Huws is again on the bench, having made his first appearance of the season as a sub against the Owls, as is Teddy Bishop for the first time this season having recovered from the groin operation he underwent in August.

The home side include ex-Town midfielder Conor Hourihane and striker Keinan Davis, who had a trial with the Town academy in November 2015 when a Biggleswade Town player prior to joining Villa a month later.

Aston Villa: Johnstone, Taylor, Chester (c), Whelan, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Jedinak, Onomah, Hutton, Adomah, Davis. Subs: Steer, De Laet, Samba, Lansbury, Grealish, Elmohamady, O’Hare.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Chambers (c), Webster, Knudsen, Skuse, Connolly, Ward, Sears, Waghorn, Garner. Subs: Gerken, Bishop, Celina, Spence, Bru, Kenlock, Huws. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).

Photo: TWTD

jabberjackson added 14:16 - Nov 25 uninspired looks like we are settling for a low scoring defeat
2

UPTHETOWEN added 14:18 - Nov 25 How on earth is Sears starting after his performance on Wednesday, Huws should be starting! Glad Iorfa is back in though.
1

Sam added 14:20 - Nov 25 decent team. Disappointed about Huws on the bench and Iorfa starting. Oh well, Sears looked good against Sheff Wed and so did Callum Connoly. COYB
-4

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:20 - Nov 25 Totally unrelated and I know he's a scum fan but thoughts have to go out to Simon Thomas today. Back on point.... Celina should start. Really hope Freddie finds some form... needs the confidence. Feel we were hard done by Weds .... lets hope we make up for it today.
4

positivity added 14:21 - Nov 25 bit of an odd one, thought he'd have gone more negative, stiffening up the midfield with bru & huws. this seems to fall between two stools. hope to be proven wrong! coyb!
1

hampstead_blue added 14:29 - Nov 25 Sears will not create much but......will run himself ragged defending. Hopefully we will have the chance to get Huws or Bish on later for a repeat of the second goal against Weds. I see the logic in the selection and thinks it's a good idea. Not sure why we need Bru on the bench though.
1

tractorboybig added 14:33 - Nov 25 If I was kenlock I would start looking for a new club. Sears should partner waghorn if allowed to gel would make a difference. How can people slag him off after weds, we looked a far better team after he came on..
4

planetblue_2011 added 14:34 - Nov 25 Yes BlueandTruesince82 just read the news poor Simon Thomas's wife, very sad news. Glad Ward is starting shame Huws isn't in there too. Iorfa? Keep Spence in. Players have a chance now to prove their worth!! COYB
0

Seasider added 14:37 - Nov 25 The Tinkerman ? Wouldn't argue that a bit of rotation required. Seems Spence may have suffered for his handball,which seems a bit unfortunate as I recall Iorfa was a bit of liability when played previouslyly,so he was dropped;whilst Sears is lucky to be given a start;bearing in mind he cost us a win against Wednesday,with hesitation when one on one with keeper,and losing the ball in the corner resulting in their goal.However could have been under instructions from Mick,who is so negative in these situations. Think both Selina and Huws may feel a bit miffed at being dropped to bench,which will have a very strong attacking midfield sitting on it at 3pm;so looks like Mick is looking at containment initially.Let us hope it works ?

0

Swn98 added 14:40 - Nov 25 Tractorboybig you do have some funny views yes Kenlock SOMETIMES looks good hes got alot of learning to do though.
-4

braveblue added 14:56 - Nov 25 Kenlock should go somewhere else. Starting sears and iorfa is a complete joke. Fingers crossed for a nil nil but with that defensive unit no chance. Bus officially parked.
2

Bluetone added 15:12 - Nov 25 Can't see us getting anything out of this - hope I'm wrong. Roll on next season without McCarthy hopefully.
1

TimmyH added 15:23 - Nov 25 Dominic Iorfa has not been very good this season and the dropping of Celina shows Mick is trying all out for a draw...
3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls