TWTD understands that winger Alex Henshall is set to join up with the Blues squad for pre-season training later this week, having agreed to sign the contract which was offered to him at the end of last season. The 20-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month having been released by Manchester City.

Henshall spent time on trial at Portman Road before signing on loan for the remainder of the season at the end of March.

The 5ft 10 in tall England U16 and U17 international was a first-team substitute on a number of occasions but without making it onto the field.

However, he impressed manager Mick McCarthy enough in training and in the U21s to be offered terms, believed to be a one-year deal, while we understand that there was also interest from lower-ranked Premier League clubs before he opted to return to Portman Road.

Born in Swindon, Henshall was a youth player with his hometown club but moved to Manchester City when 16 in the summer of 2010 having been on the Robins’ first-team bench twice. A number of other Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, also showed interest at that time.

He spent time on loan at Chesterfield making one start and six sub appearances during 2012/13 and made another league start, in which he scored his first senior goal, and another appearance from the bench while on loan at Bristol Rovers earlier in the 2013/14 campaign.

Earlier today, Henshall tweeted a hint that he would be involved in pre-season training later this week but without naming his new club: "Actually scared for Friday! Gonna be a blow."

The Town squad are due back at Playford Road on Friday for tests and assessment ahead of the start of pre-season training in earnest on Monday.

Meanwhile, we understand the clubs and authorities are still discussing the switch of the home Norwich derby currently set for Saturday 23rd August to the following day with a 12 noon kick-off.

The situation is complicated by railway engineering work taking place on the Sunday, which means that there will be no trains running from Norfolk.

Confirmation is likely next week, while it’s understood that Norwich are keen on the derbies returning to their traditional Saturday kick-offs having usually been moved to Sundays since the late 1990s.

Other Town fixtures which could potentially change date include the home game with Charlton scheduled for Sunday 28th December, which may switch to the Tuesday of that week, and the AFC Bournemouth match which could be brought forward a day to Good Friday from Saturday 4th April.

Both games are currently only separated from other matches by only two days, a situation manager Mick McCarthy was unhappy with when it occurred during the last Easter period, the Cherries having visited Portman Road only two days after a trip to Watford.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

hampstead_blue added 12:03 - Jun 26 Oh happy days. Hang-on, who cares about railway works. Let them walk.
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mojo added 12:05 - Jun 26 First main signing of the summer. Yippee. More to come soon hopefully.
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charsfield added 12:12 - Jun 26 to be fair good on norwich for coming out and trying to keep it on saturday. Tuesday at 7.45 would be ideal, mind...
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Ipswich_Loyal added 12:17 - Jun 26 Pleaaaase don't be on the saturday, I can't make it if not ahghghghghgh
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Bown added 12:18 - Jun 26 at last a signing
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Tractamatt added 12:28 - Jun 26 Thought this might happen. MM is a manager who plays things close to his chest and so expect the majority of players coming in to be in place before the season starts, I expect the next player in to be Green after that it's anyone's guess.
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big_gaz67 added 12:34 - Jun 26 This is a really positive signing! An attacking player from the north who wants to play here. The derby should be on the Saturday. I am a Christian and object to matches being slung on a Sunday morning for no real reason. Also both Norwich and Ipswich have a lot of local footballers who play on a Sunday morning. How about having it, like it used to be on Sky Sports (remember the Sumo wrestlers?), on the Friday evening?

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TractorCam added 12:49 - Jun 26 Really hope Norwich game is a sunday, although as long it's a 12:00 kick off i don't mind whether it's saturday or sunday
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bluemagic74 added 12:50 - Jun 26 Glad to see a signing and would like to see more follow but the right ones. COYB
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jas0999 added 13:00 - Jun 26 Good news. Lets hope he gets a start for us. I really hope the Norwich game stays at the Saturday date. Noon kick off would be fine.
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Bown added 13:14 - Jun 26 please sunday kick-off
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Michael11 added 13:52 - Jun 26 Could be a future gem. I'd much prefer to bring lads like Henshall in with a point to prove than a Bowyer, Bullard, Chopra etc who just want one last pay packet.
8

Michael11 added 13:57 - Jun 26 And also just seen the bottom section about the Norwich game. Hopefully it's put to the Sunday, as being from the North and working Saturday's, it's the only chance I'll get of going!!
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kerryblue added 14:54 - Jun 26 At last a signing but it doesn't take your breath away does it?We need finished articles here not reserves
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:40 - Jun 26 We haven't signed any one. Complaints. We are on the verge of signing someone, don't want him, complaints. We have signed someone. Not we wanted, complaints, and these people call themselves the realists.
1

rexron added 18:32 - Jun 26 Good luck kid. hope to see u in the team soon :-)
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Scuzzer added 19:07 - Jun 26 Good news about the possible signing. Please leave the derby on the Saturday, if you want to reduce the drinking problem then just kick off at lunch time on the Saturday. Also...please do not put the Easter Saturday match to Good Friday, definitely doesn't feel right playing on one of the most important holy days.
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Wickets added 21:24 - Jun 26 Yer lets hope he's a good 'en. Derby 3 o'clock Sat. please.
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blueboy1981 added 21:59 - Jun 26 ........ 'bring back wickham' - actually found the plus button for once - but then it was for a 'buddy' so not exactly unexpected.
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bring_back_Wickham added 07:07 - Jun 27 Blueboy - who is this buddy you refer to. I live in Brighton so I don't know anyone. Maybe you could look closer and notice all the depressing 'mick out' or why haven't we signed anybody' comments. We have the best manager in the league so stop complaining.
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bring_back_Wickham added 07:08 - Jun 27 Sorry, meant to say I only minus the depressing comments
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NoelTheDub added 09:35 - Jun 27 A signing yes but a young raw kid who might warm the bench and get 10mins at the end of a game.We need established championship players if we are going to push on from last season and I dont see this happening at our club for what ever reasons.Teams all over the league getting guys in and when a lad is linked people say on here hes not good enough for us,but what have we got a small squad that going to struggle unless we get people in not loan kids from the premier league the have their heads up their a..

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Pedlarjak added 13:36 - Jun 27 I thought he was great in "les Miserables"
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