Skipper Jon Walters has been ruled out of Saturday’s friendly at PSV due to a virus (KO 7pm). The 26-year-old missed Tuesday’s club barbecue at Glemham Hall due to the bug, but was expected to have recovered in time for the visit to Eindhoven.
Argentinian midfielder Luciano Civelli is included in the 18 as he continues his comeback from injury, while youngsters Jack Ainsley, Troy Brown and Luke Hyam are also included.
Boss Roy Keane told the club site that taking on the Dutch side will be a good examination of his squad after the somewhat easier friendlies against Newmarket and Histon: "The strength of the opposition will obviously be a lot higher and it will be a big test for us. We are aware of that but we're looking forward to it.
"We are obviously going out to win the game but the main objective for us is the fitness levels and getting the players match time."
PSV’s head coach is Fred Rutten, who has also coached at Schalke 04 in Germany and FC Twente, the club where he spent his entire playing career. Rutten took over as boss last summer and led his side to third in the Eredivisie. Amongst his assistants is former Holland international Philip Cocu.
Ibrahim Afellay is the only member of the current PSV squad who was in the Holland squad at the World Cup, but the midfielder is unlikely to face the Blues on Saturday.
Defender André Ooijer was also in the Dutch 23, but was recently released by the club, while Otman Bakkal and Orlando Engelaar were in the provisional squad but failed to make the cut.
Defenders Carlos Salcido and Francisco Rodriguez were in the Mexico squad in South Africa, while Jagos Vukovic was left out of the Serbian travelling party having been in the provisional squad.
Keeper Andreas Isaksson previously spent time at Manchester City, while Jaime Peters will come up against his Canadian international team-mate Atiba Hutchinson. Ex-Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma is currently on trial with the Dutch club.
The match is part of PSV’s fans’ day, which starts at 4pm with food, drink and PSV-related items available at booths in car park P2 and in the Stadium Square in front of PSV FANworld.
The stadium itself opens at 5.30pm when music will be played and PSV TV films will be shown on large video screens. The coaching staff and players will be introduced to the crowd from 6pm and PSV’s summer signings will be unveiled and interviewed. The match kicks-off at 7pm. Tickets, costing €5, are available on the gate.
Town and PSV last met in a friendly at Portman Road prior to the start of the 2001/02 season, which the Dutch side won 2-0. The Blues most recently visited the Philips Stadion for a friendly in August 1980 when they ran out 2-0 winners. A year earlier, the Blues won another friendly 3-1, also on PSV’s home turf.
A Blues reserves side is also in action on Saturday, at Great YarmouthTown’s Wellesley Recreation Ground (KO 3pm). A list of Town’s pre-season fixtures can be found here.
Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk