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Ipswich Town vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Omari Hutchinson starts on injury return while captain Sam Morsy on bench as Kalvin Phillips partners Jens Cajuste




Kieran McKenna has come up with a few surprises on his Ipswich Town teamsheet to face Brighton & Hove Albion at Portman Road tonight (7.30pm, TNT Sports) with Omari Hutchinson starting on his injury return and captain Sam Morsy among the substitutes.

The Blues boss - who rotated all but Luke Woolfenden for Sunday’s 3-0 Emirates FA Cup win at home to Bristol Rovers - makes three changes from the 2-2 away draw at Fulham in their last Premier League match.

Hutchinson was anticipated to come back on the bench at best after McKenna said at his pre-match press conference yesterday it was ‘not impossible’ for him to be in the squad for tonight.

Omari Hutchinson, jumping for joy after scoring his first Premier League goal, against Manchester United, starts against Brighton on his return from injury Picture: Barry Goodwin
Omari Hutchinson, jumping for joy after scoring his first Premier League goal, against Manchester United, starts against Brighton on his return from injury Picture: Barry Goodwin

But with Sammie Szmodics (ankle) and Conor Chaplin (knee) sidelined, the England Under-21 international has come straight back into the side in place of the former to play off Liam Delap along with Nathan Broadhead.

Morsy, who was rested for the FA Cup match, finds himself on the bench for the first time this season, having missed two games via injury and suspension. Kalvin Phillips, who is unable to play against his parent club Manchester City seems to be the reason as he goes again following scoring his first goal for the Blues on Sunday.

Napoli loanee Jens Cajuste’s sparkling form in the Premier League since breaking into the side sees the Swedish international continue his run of top-flight starts.

The third change from the draw at Craven Cottages sees the more attacking Wes Burns start at right wing-back in place of Ben Johnson.

In Morsy’s absence, Republic of Ireland international Dara O’Shea captains the side.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler makes two changes from his last Premier League line-up, that drew 1-1 at home to Arsenal.

Former Town player Adam Webster, who recently returned from a long hamstring injury lay-off, comes in for the injured Igor Julio at centre-back and takes on the Seagull’s armband. England international Lewis Dunk is left on the bench with Hurzeler confirmed ‘he has some issues’ to TNT Sports.

Japanese international Kaoru Mitoma is the other change as he starts out wide for Barjan Grunda, while Portuguese striker Joao Pedro (ankle) - who has five goals - has passed a fitness test to spearhead the attack. Danny Welbeck is back on the bench following injury.

Town go into the game 17th in the table, having risen out the relegation zone on goal difference last night following Newcastle beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0, looking to go a third Premier League game without defeat.

Brighton, who are 11th, are looking to end an eight game winless run which includes six draws.

Ipswich Town: Walton, O’Shea (c), Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis, Phillips, Cajuste, Burns, Hutchinson, Broadhead, Delap. Subs: Muric, Johnson, Godfrey, Townsend, Morsy, Luongo, Taylor, J Clarke, Hirst.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Webster (c), Joao Pedro, Adingra, Baleba, Mitoma, Ayari, Van Hecke, Estupinan, O'Riley, Veltman. Subs: Steele, Lamptey, Dunk, March, Enciso, Georginio, Moder, Minteh, Welbeck.

Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).

VAR: Michael Salisbury.