Cedric Kipre and Marcelino Nunez started for Ipswich Town's U21 side in their first Premier League International Cup match on Tuesday night. The senior pair were included in John McGreal's lineup for the 7pm kick-off against Belgian side Anderlecht at Portman Road.
Kipre, who was an unused substitute in the first team's 3-2 defeat at Manchester City last Saturday, last played a competitive match in the 4-2 Carabao Cup loss to Arsenal a month ago. Nunez has not featured in the Premier League since the 5-2 defeat at Manchester United at the end of August. Their involvement offers a chance for match fitness as the senior squad prepares for a home game against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
The club's academy account confirmed the team news on social media. "Team news is in," Ipswich Town Academy posted.
Ipswich Town's first team currently sits 10th in the Premier League with nine points from seven matches, having recorded three wins and four losses. They have scored 11 goals but conceded 15, leaving them with a goal difference of negative four. The senior side's recent form shows two wins and three losses from their last five league games, a sequence that includes the 3-2 loss at Manchester City on Saturday 17 October where Daizen Maeda and Zian Flemming, from a penalty, were on target. This result leaves them 12 points behind the league leaders. Prior to that, they secured a 2-1 home victory over Fulham on Saturday 10 October with late goals from Abdoul Ouattara and D. O'Shea, but suffered defeats to Everton and Arsenal in September.
Their next fixture is at home to 19th-placed Nottingham Forest on Friday 23 October, a key opportunity to build on their recent 2-1 win over Fulham and improve their league standing. Fans can view the full fixtures schedule on our site.
The U21 starting XI was: Noonan, Elliott, Kipre, Mazionis, Wilkinson, Nunez, Compton, Nicoloau, Runham, Fletcher, and Mauge. The match represents a significant step in the development pathway, integrating established players with the club's younger prospects in a European competition setting.
The original report is at eadt.co.uk
