Tractor-Boys.com

Striker David McGoldrick is set to return to action when the Blues face Cambridge United in their fourth pre-season friendly of the summer at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday afternoon (KO 3pm).

McGoldrick suffered a hip flexor problem while the squad was training in Ireland earlier in the month and has yet to feature in a pre-season game.

Speaking on Wednesday, manager Mick McCarthy said that the 28-year-old wouldn’t be rushed back but that he had returned to training.

With McGoldrick set to return and Myles Kenlock and new signing Adam Webster (both ankle) having made their first appearances of pre-season at Colchester, only Giles Coke, who underwent knee surgery at the end of 2015/16, is still to be involved in the friendlies.

Regarding his team for tomorrow, McCarthy plans to start those players who came on the second half of Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Colchester and will given them around an hour as he did with those who started at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

That’s likely to see most of Bartosz Bialkowski, Jonas Knudsen, Josh Emmanuel, Webster, Christophe Berra, Cole Skuse, Luke Hyam, Teddy Bishop, Adam McDonnell, Daryl Murphy and perhaps McGoldrick starting.

Webster, Murphy and McGoldrick - if he is included from the start - may well be given only a half as they are behind the rest of the squad.

Cambridge boss and one-time Town target Sean Derry is looking forward to his side, who finished ninth in League Two last season, facing the Blues.

"It's going to be a fantastic occasion on Saturday, and a game that gets us closer to the season with the tempo picking up and it starts to matter a little bit more,” he said. “We're hoping it will be more of a league affair.

"To come up against an opponent like Ipswich is going to be a real testing afternoon for us. We were up against some difficult opponents at times over in Germany [where they played two friendlies], but we know it's going to be a different type of affair.”

Last summer, goals from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Brett Pitman and McGoldrick saw the Blues to a 3-2 friendly victory against the U’s.

Meanwhile, McCarthy has congratulated his friend Sam Allardyce on his appointment as England boss, which was confirmed earlier this afternoon.

“I’m absolutely delighted for Sam, first and foremost but I’m also delighted for the LMA [League Managers Association] and all the English managers out there,” McCarthy told Ipswich Player HD.

“As managers, we all have to cut our teeth in the game and Sam has done that. He’s been down in the lower leagues and worked his way up and his knowledge of football is superb.

“He’s a very bright guy and he will get the team working hard and giving their all. If you add a better standard of player into that mix, then that could well be a recipe for success. I’m delighted for Sam and good luck to him.”

Squad from: Bialkowski, Gerken, Chambers, Emmanuel, Knudsen, Berra, T Smith, Webster, Digby, Malarczyk, Skuse, Douglas, Bishop, Bru, Hyam, Dozzell, McDonnell, Blanchfield, Stewart, Murphy, Sears, Pitman, McGoldrick, McLoughlin.

If you add a better standard of player into that mix, then that could well be a recipe for success.

Ipswich began to pass the ball with confidence, mixing up quick one-touch triangles in tight areas with sudden cross-field switches.

number 9 wrote:

Ipswich began to pass the ball with confidence, mixing up quick one-touch triangles in tight areas with sudden cross-field switches.

I really like the sound of that! I hope this style of play translates into consistency on the pitch. From MM's previous comments, I think he realizes we have to change our style of play...because frankly we've been found out. Also pleased to see young Dozzell score. Still a long way to go, though. COYB!

herforder wrote:Seems from TWTD that MM went totally mental at conceding the soft, very late, equaliser. Sounds a bit familiar?! (Albeit only in a friendly).