Ipswich Town head into Tuesday’s second-round tie with genuine momentum, Jack Clarke’s stoppage-time winner against Sunderland having given Gary O’Neil victory in his first competitive match in charge.
Leicester arrive having won just once in three matches across all competitions this season, and the Foxes’ summer business with Ipswich means several familiar names return to Portman Road.
O’Neil has made clear he intends to rotate without weakening his side. “I’m desperate to beat Leicester, they’re going to come here and definitely try and leave some marks on us and have a right go at us,” he said.
Ipswich Town team news
Christian Walton remains out with the foot injury that has kept him sidelined since pre-season, so Kjell Scherpen is set to continue in goal. Florentino Luis and Azor Matusiwa are both doubts; Matusiwa is still working back from the muscle injury that required surgery following last season. Their absence would leave O’Neil’s midfield options at Marcelino Nunez and Sasa Lukic, who are expected to form the double pivot regardless, given the scale of rotation planned elsewhere in the side.
Scherpen is set to start behind a back four of Dara O’Shea, Issa Diop, Jacob Greaves and Leif Davis. Nunez and Lukic sit at the base of midfield, with Abdul Fatawu, Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda supporting Emersonn, who scored the opener against Sunderland and is expected to lead the line again.
Fatawu, who made his Ipswich debut in that match after joining from Leicester this summer, showed no ill effects from the pre-season absence that preceded it. O’Neil has stressed his changes will not be for their own sake, insisting the depth of his squad allows him to make them without weakening the side’s chances of progressing.
Ipswich Town predicted lineup
Ipswich Town possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Scherpen; O’Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Nunez, Lukic; Fatawu, Enciso, Maeda; Emersonn
When will the match kick off?
The Carabao Cup match kicks off at 19:45 on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.
How to watch Ipswich Town vs Leicester City?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
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