Alex Palmer is Ipswich Town’s first choice keeper (Image: Ross Halls)

Goalkeeper: ALEX PALMER

Only conceded three goals from open play so far. Nothing to suggest his place between the sticks is under threat at the moment.

Darnell Furlong could make his Town debut tonight.(Image: Richard Calver)

Right-back: DARNELL FURLONG

The transfer window is shut and there are now four senior right-backs at the club. Darnell Furlong – a £3.5m addition from West Brom – hasn’t been brought in to warm the bench. With a couple of weeks of training with new team-mates behind him, I can see him replacing Ashley Young for this one. Likely to face a tricky dribbler in former Town loanee Louie Barry.

Town skipper Dara O’Shea played 90 minutes for Ireland in Armenia on Tuesday night.(Image: PA)

Right-sided centre-back: DARA O’SHEA

Skipper’s loose touch led to Derby’s second goal and he subsequently didn’t get rave reviews from Ireland fans over the international break. Will be looking to get back to his best.

Jacob Greaves is still building a defensive partnership with Dara O’Shea.(Image: Ross Halls)

Left-sided centre-back: JACOB GREAVES

Finding his feet back in the Championship. McKenna will want this centre-back partnership to keep growing.

Leif Davis has no real back-up at left-back.(Image: Ross Halls)

Left-back: LEIF DAVIS

Will be a nailed on pick whenever fully fit this season. With Conor Townsend out for the season, who is next in line at left-back… Young? Ben Johnson? Harry Clarke (when fit again)? Cameron Humphreys? It would be someone playing out of position.

Blades right-back Ben Godfrey, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Town, will know all about Davis’ attacking threat.

Azor Matusiwa will want to build on his improving form.(Image: Ross Halls)

Holding midfielder: AZOR MATUSIWA

Summer signing from Rennes has improved game-by-game. Wins duels and looks to play line breaking passes. His renewed partnership with former Reims team-mate Jen Cajuste looked highly encouraging against Derby. Dutchman will need to keep a close eye on midfield danger man Gustavo Hamer (10G, 8A last season).

Jens Cajuste was impressive against Derby.(Image: Ross Halls)

Box-to-box midfielder: JENS CAJUSTE

Some of the flicks, spins and driving runs he produced against Derby, on his second Town debut, had the crowd purring. Can see him rotating with Marcelino Nunez over the course of the campaign.

Kasey McAteer made his full Town debut against Derby.(Image: Ross Halls)

Right-winger: KASEY MCATEER

Played the second half of Ireland’s 2-1 defeat in Armenia on Tuesday night and my gut feeling is he’ll be given the chance to build on his full debut v Derby.

There may well come a point in the season where new £17.5m signing Sindre Walle Egeli can make this place in the side (or a more central role) his own. The 19-year-old is likely to be eased in to start with though, as was the case in the first few months of Omari Hutchinson’s first season at the club.

Another option is to play Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke as the two wide men tonight, given neither have been away on international duty, but that experiment hasn’t really worked out in the early stages of the campaign.

Chuba Akpom has had two cameo appearances for Town so far.(Image: PA)

No.10: CHUBA AKPOM

Town have eased in the Ajax loanee following his very limited pre-season. Following cameo displays against Preston and Derby, this might be the moment he’s unleashed from the start given Conor Chaplin has gone and Sammie Szmodics suffered an ankle set-back on international duty. Former Championship Golden Boot winner needs to be a key cog if the Blues are to have a successful season.

Will Jaden Philogene continue on the left wing?(Image: Ross Halls)

Left-winger: JADEN PHILOGENE

Jack Clarke displayed nerves of steel to bag that late, late penalty equaliser against Derby in front of the North Stand, but his general displays at the start of this season have been underwhelming. Philogene’s been a frustrating watch at times too, but there have been flashes of skill and work-rate. McKenna is likely to persist with the £20m man.

George Hirst will be keen to bag his first goal from open play this season. (Image: Ross Halls)

Striker: GEORGE HIRST

Looked full of confidence in pre-season with the No.9 on his back, but he’s spurned some good chances since that late penalty equaliser at Birmingham on the opening day. Has been battling three centre-backs for the last three games, to be fair, so will hopefully have more space to run in behind tonight. Como loanee Ivan Azon, who looked lively on his cameo debut, can provide an injection of energy and aggression off the bench.