Chris Lakey Norwich City boss Glenn Roeder has promised changes ahead of tomorrow's Carling Cup clash at MK Dons. Roeder said several of the team who played in the defeat at Coventry City picked up minor knocks and will not make the cup game at Milton Keynes, although they should all be available for the first home league game of the season against Blackpool on Saturday.

Chris Lakey

Glenn Roeder says the players who miss Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at MK Dons will all be fit for the first home game of the season next weekend, against Blackpool.

The Canaries manager is set to make “three or four” changes, but insists he is not being disrespectful of the competition and that he will field his strongest possible line-up for the first round tie.

“I think there is no doubt we are all allowed to do what we want, but there is definitely a group of managers that show a lot of disrespect - and by the way I don't mean Arsenal.

“There are other managers outside the top four that admit they don't play their best team and some come a cropper and some get away with it.

“I personally think you put out your best team every time, which we will do, but I am just warning our fans we have picked up injuries from Saturday and we are going to have three or four changes.”

Roeder declined to reveal just who was carrying knocks from Saturday's season opener at Coventry so it will be a guessing game until the teams run out for City's first trip to the Don's new home.

Dejan Stefanovic needed treatment after a collision with Robbie Simpson, while striker Arturo Lupoli also needed attention, but any absences will provide a chance for Saturday's non-starters to stake a claim for the weekend.

“From our supporters' point of view, there has to be changes because this group picked up knocks on Saturday,” he said. “When they see the team, it will be the best we can get out.

“We want to have a long run in the competition. It is a very good competition to be involved in for as long as possible so it's not a case of resting players it is a case that they are injured and they are not going to be available, although I think they will all be okay on Saturday.

“It will be an opportunity for a few players tomorrow to stake a claim for keeping their place in the team on Saturday and there will be a few players who didn't start last Saturday who could get a start tomorrow night.”

Adam Drury is set for his first game under Roeder, having had 10 months out with injury, while the manager may give a full debut to on-loan striker Omar Koroma. However, Spurs central defender Troy Archibald-Henville may have to settle for a place among the subs - with Roeder able to choose three from seven for this competition.

“He is very much a young player that looks like he will probably need a few weeks to get to know us, and us to get to know him,” said Roeder.

“We did a lot of defensive work particularly for him yesterday at the training ground which he did well at, but I can see him probably starting off on the bench a little bit more before breaking in. “

Archibald-Henville should feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Peterborough at Colney tomorrow.

“That will be good game for him to get some match practise in,” Roeder added. “He doesn't look super-fit at the minute; I don't know how much pre-season he had or how much football he's had.”

That match comes too early for David Bell, although the former Luton midfielder's recovery from an ankle injury has been quicker than expected.

“He is probably a week or so ahead now of what we thought he was going to be,” said Roeder. “He is up to full speed running and this coming week will be about him twisting and turning and feeling comfortable about doing that on his injured ankle. Hopefully by the end of the week we can get him involved in a little bit of ball work.

“Maybe he is going to be three weeks rather than four weeks.”