Niall Huggins started his first senior game for 14 months as Tony Mowbray made four changes to the side that began last weekend's home defeat against Cardiff City. With Luke O'Nien missing out through suspension, and with Dennis Cirkin picking up an injury, Mowbray was forced to make changes in both full-back positions.
Former Leeds United man Huggins, who has been sidelined since September 2021 and was only recently eased back into action with the U21s, started at left-back in place of Cirkin, and Trai Hume came in for O'Nien at right-back. The other changes saw Corry Evans and Alex Pritchard - both of whom were rested against Cardiff - return in midfield, with Abdoullah Ba and Patrick Roberts making way.
Both Ba and Roberts were included on the bench. Also on the bench was 17-year-old centre-back Zak Johnson, who was brought in to provide defensive cover.
