Ipswich Town vs Southampton: Aro Muric returns in goal for Blues with Christian Walton injured while Julio Enciso gets first start

Goalkeeper Aro Muric has returned to Ipswich Town’s starting XI as one of two injury enforced changes ahead of hosting Southampton in a basement battle at Portman Road (3pm) - and recent loan Enciso is handed his first start.

Kosovo international Muric replaces Christian Walton between the posts with the latter having picked up a groin injury in the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool.

It will be Muric’s first Premier League appearance since losing his place to the latter following a number of high profile errors ahead of the Chelsea home victory on December 30.

Scotland international Cieran Slicker, who was called into the senior squad earlier this season, is among the substitutes.

Elsewhere, Sweden international Jens Cajuste comes back into the centre of Kieran McKenna’s midfield in place of Kalvin Phillips with the latter dropping to the bench.

Omari Hutchinson takes the place of Wes Burns on the right-hand side with the Welsh international having been confirmed as out for the rest of the season with an ACL knee injury at yesterday’s press conference.

Nathan Broadhead, who memorably scored the equaliser against Southampton in last season’s epic comeback 3-2 win on Easter Monday at Portman Road, replaces Jaden Philogene in the other change.

Winger Jack Clarke is alongside Philogene, signed from Aston Villa for £20 million plus adds-ons, on the substitutes bench.

Ivan Juric’s Southampton squad does not include former Town homegrown midfielder Flynn Downes, who has recently been starting on the bench with Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu in their engine room.

Danish international midfielder Albert Gronbaek and Brazilian Welington both come in for their debuts for the Saints.

Meanwile, England international Aaron Ramsdale returns in goal.

Southampton go into the clash bottom of the table with just six points and their 16 goals matching second-bottom Town’s points tally.

Ipswich: Muric, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis, Morsy (cpt), Cajuste, Hutchinson, Enciso, Broadhead, Delap.

Subs: Slicker, Johnson, Godfrey, Townsend, Phillips, Taylor, J. Clarke, Philogene, Hirst.

Southampton: Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Aribo, Bree, Fernandes, Ugochukwu, Gronbaek, Onuachu, Welington, Bednarek (cpt).

Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Smallbone, Armstrong, Lallana, Sugawara, Sulemana, Dibling, Bella-Kotchap.

Referee: Michael Oliver (Ashington).

VAR: Jarred Gillett.