Boss Roy Keane has challenged his players to win themselves a place in his first team for the opening game of the season against Middlesbrough when the Blues face Premier League West Ham and a Spurs XI next week. Before then, Town play friendlies against Leiston and Bury Town, which Keane says will be more about fitness.

The Town manager told the club site: "Middlesbrough away is the real business for us, but we'll be looking to go into that game with decent performances against West Ham and Tottenham.

"The games we have had in pre-season so far, and it will be the same this week, are about the fitness levels and getting time on the pitch for the players.

"We're getting closer to the start of the season now though, and there will be players looking to perform well against West Ham and Spurs and book their place in the team for the start of the season.

"They are the two important games for us and we'll be looking for a bit more from the matches than just the fitness side."

Town will play two different sides in Tuesday’s game at Leiston and Wednesday’s match at Bury Town (both 7.45pm), before the West Ham fixture at Portman Road on Saturday (3pm) and the friendly against a Tottenham XI - perhaps including former loanee Giovani Dos Santos - three days later (7.45pm).

Photo: Action Images

Seasonticketsteve added 15:02 - Jul 26 Anyone want to hazard a guess at the starting line for the Boro game? I reckon at the moment: GK: Murphy LB: Kennedy CB: Macauley CB: Smith RB: Peters LM: Civelli CM: Norris CM: Leadbitter RM: Edwards ST: Wickham ST: Walters Working on the assumption of a 4-4-2 this is!
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PablosRightBoot added 15:04 - Jul 26 As things stand, I think it will be Murphy, O'Connor,McAuley, Smith, Peters, Kennedy, Norris, Leadbitter, Edwards, Wickham, Walters
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GetSereniBack added 15:05 - Jul 26 Murphy Oconnor Mcauley Smith Peters Walters Norris Leadbitter Civelli PRISKIN!!!!!! Wickham Sorted.
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PablosRightBoot added 15:08 - Jul 26 Civelli wont be deemed fit. Likely to start the Exeter game instead
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Seasonticketsteve added 15:12 - Jul 26 Anyone seen the evening star! The bunch of tw*ts-got all excited by the headline 'Dos Santos to return to Ipswich' only to read on that he is going to be in the starting line up for Tottenham! Muppets!
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DAH_Blu3 added 15:12 - Jul 26 totally agree with priskin up top with wickham instead of walters
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I_am_John_Hoyles added 15:15 - Jul 26 Has anyone noticed the irishferries.com advert at the top of the page? Is this to prepare us for when Ipswich Town does a Wimbledon and relocates over the North Sea? Ipswich Feck FC here we come! I aready hear that they've dropped Adnams as the official Portman Road beer and are now serving just Guinness! And Bluey and Crazy (the two Ipswich mascots) have been replaced by two lepricorns dancing along playing harps!!! Go on Go on Go on Go on Go on Go on Go on Go on Go on Go on!!!!

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GeorgiDoundarov added 15:22 - Jul 26 I'd agree more with GetSereniBack on that - Walters should never be a striker!!! He is much better playing from behind. As of who will be partnering Wickham - I don't like the Priskin idea at all (prefer Stead big time) but it seems that we will not have any other options. We need a "Chopra" level of striker in order to be capable of fighting for promotion.
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dickie added 15:25 - Jul 26 I didn't know Ireland had relocated to the East...
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PablosRightBoot added 15:40 - Jul 26 Walters won't play up front. Likely to be a 4-3-3/ 4-5-1 formation esp away from home against one of the top teams in the league
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DanLyles added 15:48 - Jul 26 I reckon 4-3-3 Murphy Peters McAuley Smith Kennedy *Hyam Norris Leadbitter Civelli Wickham Walters *Luke Hyam to show more desire than any of the others and force his way in as the holding man. I heard that he was excellent in 2nd half v PSV
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robdaful added 15:48 - Jul 26 Keane needs to say something to the players. But I'd like to see some more signings. And I keep coming on twtd. And hoping to see some headlines saying "Chopra down Town for medical" Then "Finnan Completes switch to Ipswich" and then a thrid saying "Keane pulls of a trio of signings" (as Marton Fulop completes his move)
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prozach added 16:17 - Jul 26 Walters shouldn't be upfront...best position is RM. Had a poor year last season, would play Edwards instead. Do like Walters, but since 07/08 when he bagged all those goals, don't think he has been that good
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tom_the_blue added 16:20 - Jul 26 geography not one of your stregnths, eh, John Hoyles?
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GetSereniBack added 16:25 - Jul 26 everyone knows walters is wasted upfront, he is a big powerful winger. Chances are it will be more a 4-5-1 4-3-3 kind of thing with priskin and walters providing width with o'connor and peters wing backs.
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blue_em_away added 16:39 - Jul 26 I'm getting a bit tired of all the fitness fitness fitness.... There is so much more to football than fvcking fitness. You can run all day but if you don't know what your doing you wont win sod all. I just hope RK has been coaching over the close season and not just being a manager. Not much evidence of it last season Mr Keane, so I think you have something to prove, don't you?. Show them you can point and direct as well as SHOUT!!

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Eireannach_gorm added 16:56 - Jul 26 What are lepricorns? Sounds like a nasty foot complaint ( mutation between leprosy and corns ). Like the 4-3-3 option but its not going to happen, 4-5-1 is the way Roy is going.
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GlenPennyfather added 17:34 - Jul 26 MURPHY PETERS McAULEY SMITH KENNEDY GARVAN NORRIS LEADBITTER WALTERS WICKHAM PRISKIN SUBS: LEE-BARRETT, O'CONNOR, CIVELLI, COUNAGO, EDWARDS, BROWN, HYAM
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stinkiusminkius added 17:39 - Jul 26 Blue em away - I agree. The amount of time we hear of "fitness" and selecting players based on "how players train" is annoying. And besides, keane played a clearly unfit and knackered jon walters every game last season. Tactics and how players complement the team is more important in my view.
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These_arent_the_days added 17:45 - Jul 26 Just run around a lot boys & you'll get a game. It occurs to me that Arnold Muhren , one of our best all-time players, wouldn't get a look in here.
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Kieran_Knows added 18:43 - Jul 26 I'll go for a 4-4-2 formation. GK: B.Murphy RB: Peters CB: Smith CB: McAuley LB: Kennedy RM: Edwards CM: Norris (Captain) CM: Leadbitter LM: Martin/Civelli FW: Wickham FW: ?? I personally feel that one of these 3 signings will be a striker, so we shall see, if not, ill go for Priskin.
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jas0999 added 18:57 - Jul 26 I think it will be a 4-4-2 with some surprises: MURPHY PETERS McAULEY BRUCE KENNEDY (If signed) MARTIN NORRIS LEADBITTER WALTERS WICKHAM PRISKIN SUBS: LEE-BARRETT, O'CONNOR, CIVELLI, COUNAGO, EDWARDS, SMITH, THE NEW GUY FROM SUNDERLAND
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yorksblue added 20:13 - Jul 26 Still 2 weeks to go to get a decent manager in. Mowbray chomping at the bit.
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hamster153 added 21:36 - Jul 26 Think well make alot more sighnings thn tht. Townsend, Fulop and of course Chopra. Anyone of them we sighn would be in the team if i was choosing.
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devontractorboy added 23:56 - Jul 26 Presumably Mr Keane you also want whats left of the 8 transfer listed players, who at best feel unwanted, to prove themselves for a place in your team. If you ran a business Mr Keane and not a footie team you'd be bankrupt by now, all talk and no trousers as me dear old M'am used to say. I'll support you when the results start speaking for themselves, currently based on last season I give you a generous 3/10. The preparations for this season have been abysmal, lack of quality opposition and much fannying about with so called transfers. When are you going to get a grip, it's all been a trail of excuses thus far Mr Keane..... Can you walk the walk???

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