THE lesser spotted midfielder known as David Norris will be on show for Ipswich Town tonight when they entertain Leyton Orient in the League Cup.

Derek Davis

THE lesser spotted midfielder known as David Norris will be on show for Ipswich Town tonight when they entertain Leyton Orient in the League Cup.

The £2million signing from Plymouth Argyle has played just 45 minutes of football, the first pre-season game when Town won at Brentford, since his foot operation back in March.

The 27-year-old made just nine appearances after joining at the end of January, scoring once, in a start blighted by a problem underneath his right heel so manager Jim Magilton is relieved to have his biggest signing to date back playing. He said: “I'm delighted to have him back. He will get half and hour or maybe 45 minutes we will see how it goes.”

Club captain Richard Naylor is also pencilled in, along with Alex Bruce, while Magilton may spring a few other surprises in his team selection.

He added: “Those lads that worked so hard for the six weeks in pre-season and were disappointed to be left out on Saturday will be involved.”

It will be a case of balancing, giving players an opportunity, but at the same time making sure it is strong enough to beat a lively League One side and get a cup run going.

Magilton said: “My history in the League Cup is not one to shout from the rooftops about. After that poor start on Saturday it is important to get a win and give the lads a little confidence.

“Leyton Orient will get our full respect and we will go about our business with the full intent of winning. I know their manager Martin Ling from when he played at Swindon under Glenn Hoddle and they will want to play good football.

“They will come here and enjoy this place but we have to show our intent from the start. The lads that start need to show their intent in how much they want to be part of this team.”

Leyton Orient goal-scorers Adam Boyd and JJ Melligan have got Ipswich Town in their sights after the O's got their season off to a winning start against Hereford on Saturday. After beating QPR in the League Cup last season, the east London outfit are looking for a repeat against a fragile Ipswich side

Melligan, who scored the first goal in the 2-1 victory over the Bulls is looking for a repeat of the upset they caused at the same stage of the competition last season.

He said: “We're probably not expected to get a result, but we beat QPR away last season and they're a Championship team. So fingers crossed we can go out there and give a good performance and hopefully get a win, but we're under no pressure.”

Former Hartlepool striker Boyd is equally relaxed about the game and confident they can cause an upset.

Boyd said: “To get a win on the first day is very important. It gives us confidence going into the Ipswich game and more importantly going into next Saturday against Peterborough.

“There is no pressure on us going to Ipswich. We will just go to give a good account of ourselves and enjoy ourselves, try to pass the ball and hopefully come out on top.”

Things are going well for O's boss Martin Ling after the opening day win and he has been boosted by a £50,000 windfall after activating a 15 per cent sell on clause inserted when Nicky Shorey went to Reading and has now moved to Aston Villa

One player he could look to bring in, on a free, is full back Jamie Clapham who is training with Ipswich at the moment as he searches for a new club

Tonight's squads

Ipswich Town squad: R Wright, Supple, D Wright, Casement, Peters, Balkestein, McAuley, Smith, Bruce, Norris, Shumulikoski, Miller, Garvan, Haynes, Trotter, Quinn, Counago, Walters, Lee, Rhodes, Lisbie.

Leyton Orient squad: Morris, Jones, Purches, Granville, Mkandawire, Saah, Melligan, Chambers, Terry, Boyd, Demetriou, Jarvis, Gray, Thornton, Palmer, Pires.