System switch?
There’s been a lot of talk about whether it’s time for McKenna to ditch his favoured 4-2-3-1. What would that look like? The more solid base of a 3-5-2 would mean no place for in-form wingers Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke, so I think we can rule that out. An old-fashioned 4-4-2 would probably leave the Blues outnumbered in midfield. 4-3-3 is an option, operating with a midfield three of Matusiwa, Cajuste and Nunez, but, given this game is at home, and West Brom are 4-2-3-1, I can’t see a deviation from the norm.
Goalkeeper: CHRISTIAN WALTON
Alex Palmer limped off with a calf injury in the first half on Tuesday night and replacement Walton ended up picking the ball out of his net three times in the second half. Remarkably, this will be his first Championship start since July 2020 (when he was on loan at Blackburn). Having largely warmed the bench for two-and-a-bit years he’ll be keen to take his chance.
Right-back: DARNELL FURLONG
I thought Ashley Young did okay on Tuesday night. He’s certainly a more creative right-back than Furlong, but now is the time for solidity. Town have had five different right-sided partnerships in 10 league games. It’s time to give one a chance to grow. Furlong is ex-Baggies, of course.
Right-sided centre-back: DARA O’SHEA
Irishman had a night to forget against Charlton. He was poor for the first goal and looked jittery once things unravelled and the crowd turned. Skipper needs to show his mettle against a former club today.
Left-sided centre-back: JACOB GREAVES
Greaves had an error-strewn start to the season – dropped. Cedric Kipre came in, had a great game against Norwich, then netted a comedic own goal at Middlesbrough – dropped. Greaves then had a bad night at the office in midweek. General consensus will probably be that Kipre (another ex-West Brom man) should return, but personally I think McKenna just needs to stick with a central defensive pairing. Constant rotation at the back won’t help with chemistry or confidence.
Left-back: LEIF DAVIS
I’m not sure the inverted left-back role is really working. For me, Town should stick to the tried and trusted method of Davis bombing past on the overlap and cutting balls back into the box. The left-sided central midfielder has to do more to cover the gaps he leaves, as Massimo Luongo did in the past.
Holding midfielder: AZOR MATUSIWA
Great to have the Dutchman available again following a one-game ban for five yellow cards. Town really missed him sitting in front of the back four on Tuesday night. That first Charlton goal, when Sonny Carey carried the ball from the halfway line, wouldn’t have happened with him in the side.
Playmaker: MARCELINO NUNEZ
Jens Cajuste had us all purring with his silky spins and driving runs in the early stages of the season. ‘Championship cheat code?’ Not on the evidence of the last two performances. I’ve been disappointed with the way he’s disappeared for long spells in games and failed to track runners. Could be time to give the Portman Road faithful their first look at a double pivot pairing of Matusiwa and Nunez.
Right-wing: JACK CLARKE
Neither Sindre Walle Egeli or Kasey McAteer have made this position their own yet. With that in mind, I think McKenna may look to shoehorn both of his most in-form attackers – Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke – in the side. Clarke was the only Town player to emerge from Tuesday night with any real credit. He’ll have to find joy in beating his man on the outside to cross if deployed on the right.
No.10: CHUBA AKPOM
Another hard position to call. On one hand, I think Sammie Szmodics’ graft and character is what’s required off the back of a night when leaders were in short supply. On the other, I thought Akpom showed some encouraging signs in that dominant first half. The Ajax loanee was brought in for a reason. I think it’s time to give him a run of games to find his rhythm.
Left-winger: JADEN PHILOGENE
A few eyebrows were raised when the man who had scored five outstanding goals in his previous three outings at Portman Road was dropped to the bench in midweek. He’ll surely return to the team for this one.
Striker: GEORGE HIRST
The barrel-chested Ivan Azon has done okay in this two starts so far, against Bristol City and Charlton, but I see Hirst being best suited to running in behind Nat Phillips and Chris Mepham. Town’s No.9 will hopefully feel he’s got a point to prove after that saved penalty at Middlesbrough. A goal would do his confidence the world of good.
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