Boss Mick McCarthy says he knows his best team ahead of this afternoon’s friendly visit to Barnet (KO 3pm). Town so far have a 100% record in their pre-season matches.

McCarthy says he has a good idea who will be in his first XI come the start of the season proper on August 3rd: “There are three friendlies left, I know my best team, I know my best players.”

The Blues manager says the aims of pre-season remain as they were at the start: “I want to get them fit, I don’t want any injuries, I just want to play the games.

“I’d prefer to win them because it’s a good habit. They don’t mean anything, I know that, but it’s still better to win them. We’ll just play the games, keeping fit, getting match fit.”

McCarthy was hopeful that left-back Aaron Cresswell might be OK for the visit to the Bees’ new home, The Hive, after missing the match at Gillingham with a thigh injury. Overall, the squad is likely to be much the same as the one which travelled to Kent on Tuesday.

Frederic Veseli will play his first game since joining the Blues on a two-year contract with the option of a further season yesterday, probably at right-back.

Trialist Titus Bramble said he could well be involved against Barnet after the 2-1 victory over the Gills and Tottenham central defender Bongani Khumalo may play the third game of his trial with the Blues and Spurs in talks regarding a season-long loan.

Striker Paul Taylor is again set to miss out, although we understand that the ex-Peterborough man is now in full training with the rest of the squad and has been pencilled in to play at Colchester on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Blues continue to be reported to be close to the signing of ex-Wolves defender Christophe Berra with the deal perhaps being announced as soon as Monday.

Town were reported to be close to a deal more than a week ago following his release from Molineux. Blackpool are also understood to have made an approach after a move to Rangers broke down.

Speaking about Berra after the Crawley game McCarthy said he’d love to have him at Portman Road but felt money might be an issue with the Scottish international having to take a significant cut in wages: “He’s a free transfer and he’s a really good defender Christophe.

"If I could sign him, I’d be delighted. Whether we can afford to sign him, because he’ll have other offers, he’s a good player.

“But I like him, I signed him, for heaven’s sake, I paid £2 million for him and he helped get us promoted and helped keep us up for two seasons as well.”

The recruitment of Berra and Khumalo would give Mick McCarthy plenty of competition at the centre of the defence with Luke Chambers and Tommy Smith last season’s first choices. However, it would mean a deal to sign Bramble is unlikely.

Photo: Action Images

Ole_Pablo_Ole added 09:46 - Jul 20 Loach, Cresswell, Smith, Chambers, Veselli, Skuse, Wordsworth, Anderson, Hyam, McGoldrick, Murphy that would be my prediction
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RetroBlue added 09:49 - Jul 20 And that folks , is what marks out an excellent manager from an average one. This season IS going to be OUR season.
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Pettitt10 added 09:55 - Jul 20 Ole_Pablo_Ole, I think it's going to be Tabb from the left, instead of Wordsworth. But other than that, spot on
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TractorCam added 09:59 - Jul 20 I agree with Pettitt10, i think we'll start Wordsworth at his former club Colchester
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jas0999 added 10:04 - Jul 20 Ole_Pablo_Ole: Also believe it will be Tabb instead of Wordsworth and also not 100% certain it will be Loach in goal ...
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Jimmys_Law added 10:05 - Jul 20 ^ that's a pretty good bet, although I would like to see Taylor make the 1st team. I don't know whether MM sees him as more of a striker or a right winger though. Time will tell I guess.
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saffronblue added 10:24 - Jul 20 I think Taylor might sneak in ahead of Murphy once he is fully fit and Tabb will play
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JackITFC96 added 10:29 - Jul 20 Its brilliant, we're writing teams of such high standards which is amazing and we have so much brilliance to cover aswell, Edwards,woody, noble, Taylor, German, Hewitt, with a couple of CB signing we could be well away COYB!
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JackITFC96 added 10:29 - Jul 20 *Nouble
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muccletonjoe added 10:36 - Jul 20 Think Hewitt , Tabb and Taylor will play ,if berra signs all bets are off with centre half pairing ,
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NoCanariesAllowed added 10:50 - Jul 20 Has to be said, I don't recall Paul Jewell ever having this clarity concerning his strongest XI. On the contrary, I recall plenty of occasions where he said he still wasn't sure what his best team was. I'm all for competition and a positive selection dilemma, but it's also good to know that Mick's got one eye on the start of the season with a clear plan.
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RYITFC added 11:02 - Jul 20 Will be interesting to see who will get the Right back slot, Hewitt, Veseli or even Chambers. Would Khumalo be surplus to requirements if Berra signs? I would say yes unless we play 5-3-2.
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Michael11 added 11:02 - Jul 20 Haven't seen much of Smith/Chambers in pre-season. Good to see Taylor will get a run out against Colchester. Berra/Khumalo/Smith/Chambers is quality options in defence. It's a massive transformation from this time last year.
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Wickets added 11:05 - Jul 20 Yer Tabb in for Wordy, Taylor and Nouble second half subs for front two.
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Ipswich24 added 11:06 - Jul 20 Best side would be in 3-5-2 formation Loach Veselli Chambers Smith Hewitt Hyam Tabb Cresswell Taylor McGoldrick. Murphy
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Stewart27 added 11:20 - Jul 20 Ipswich 24 You have three strikers, three defenders and a creative forward thinking midfielder next to hyam. I wouldn't fancy our chances to be honest!
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Paddy39 added 11:38 - Jul 20 CHOPRA - CHOPRA - CHOPRA - BYE - BYE - BYE. The sooner the better.
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thebeat added 11:41 - Jul 20 Loach Veseli, Chambers,Smith,Creswell, Edwards,Hyam,Tabb,Anderson, Murphy,McGoldrick i think thats what Mick will go with.
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theobald1985 added 11:42 - Jul 20 I like ipswich 24s team Stewert 27 I dont understand what part of it u dont get He has 30for defenders cresswell amd hewit.as wing backs with 2moro centre mid taylor in the hole and 2 strikers
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Len_Brennan added 11:46 - Jul 20 I've been impressed with Wordsworth when I've seen him in an Ipawich shirt, so I wouldn't rule him out of the mix for a start. I know Mick liked to have 2 defensive minded central midfielders last season, but he had to concentrate on shoring up the defence first when he came in & stop us giving away silly goals/points. The downside of that is that it cost us creativity & service to the strikers. Presumably he'll be looking to set the team up with a more positive formation this season. Maybe Tabb will be a third central midfielder alongside Wordsworth and Hyam or Skuse, with just Anderson playing as a winger? McGoldrick & Murphy look likely to start up front alright. If Mick knows his best XI already, it does beg the question as to how (or if) he sees a fully fit Paul Taylor coming into the frame for a starting spot, as he hasn't played at all since Mick came in.

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Beattiesballbag added 12:36 - Jul 20 Ole_Pablo_Ole added 09:46 - Jul 20 Loach, Cresswell, Smith, Chambers, Veselli, Skuse, Wordsworth, Anderson, Hyam, McGoldrick, Murphy Looks like one of Paul Jewells teams with Cresswell at R/back, Veselie at Left & Hyam on the wing!!!
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Beattiesballbag added 12:49 - Jul 20 Don't want to spoil the party.......... but, Didn't we have a really good settled defence for the second half of last season, but the midfield & forward line struggled to score Goals!! Just hope he's keeping the signing upfront quiet until it's done & dusted.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 12:58 - Jul 20 What an embarrassment of riches we have in our squad! With Berra apparently close to signing and Bramble and/or Khumalo still in with a chance of a contract, Doherty on the brink and Stearman still a possibility, the strength in depth in our squad will be hard to match in this division this season. Just feel we need one more striker and for me there would be none better than Billy Sharp. His signing really would be the edible gold dust on the cherry on the icing on the cake!

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Robbie12345 added 12:59 - Jul 20 McCathy's best squad- Loach Veseli, Smith, Chambers/Another replacement, Cresswell Anderson, Hyam, Tabb Taylor, McGoldrick, Nouble Bench- Gerken, Hewitt, Mings/Another defender-loaned, Wordsworth, Skuse, Edwards, Murphy CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM HERE!!
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gypo added 13:03 - Jul 20 with regards to berra i cant see his wages being a problem considering he`s not signed to a club so he`s not earning any wage`s surely !!.
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