Striker David McGoldrick has been named in the Town squad for tonight’s penultimate pre-season friendly at Southend United (KO 7.45pm). McGoldrick, last season’s 16-goal top scorer, has been out of action since February with knee injuries.

The 26-year-old returned to training with the rest of the squad last week with manager Mick McCarthy happy with his progress: “He’s looking fit, he did everything.

“Of course he’s a bit ring rusty because he’s coming back from a long-term injury, but in terms of his fitness and his knee, he’s fine.”

Also included in a 24-man party travelling to Roots Hall to take on the League Two club will be trialists Kevin Bru and Balint Bajner, who both played at Gillingham on Saturday.

Midfielder Jay Tabb returns having missed that game with a minor knock, but Stephen Hunt again misses out, due to his calf problem.

Town last faced the Shrimpers in a friendly two years ago when the home side won 2-1. Kane Ferdinand opened the scoring before he saw a header deflect off Luke Chambers and into the net to make it 2-0, with the Blues’ reply a late Mark Phillips own goal.

Town probable: Gerken, Bialkowski, Parr, Mings, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Clarke, Skuse, Hyam, Wordsworth, Bru, Bishop, Anderson, Henshall, Stewart, Tabb, McGoldrick, Murphy, Marriott, Taylor, Nouble, Bajner.

Photo: Action Images

StuartBrett8 added 09:46 - Jul 29 The fact that Bru and Bajner are still here means Mick obviously is keen on signing them, welcome back Didsy! :)
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Paddy39 added 09:49 - Jul 29 Didz welcome back but no crunching tackles tonight please we need you for the bigger picture starting on the 9th.
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cornishblu added 10:10 - Jul 29 ....and ready for your first hatrick on Aug 23rd...COYB
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Michael11 added 10:18 - Jul 29 I'd imagine we'll give him half an hour tonight. It'd be great to have him back for the Fulham game but can't see it. Hopefully he'll be 100% ready for the Norwich game. I think we'll start Jack Marriott tonight after Mick said we were better against Gillingham when Taylor came off.
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Flewitt85 added 10:33 - Jul 29 Yeah boi! This is the news iv been wanting to hear!
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ArnieM added 10:49 - Jul 29 Im glad didzy is back. But im much happier that we now have several players capable of scoring goals in the team ie Henshall, Stewart, Marriot, Nouble. This makes us less one dimensional.
4

runningout added 11:34 - Jul 29 Calm down ffs some of you... You should know by now.
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bluecobblers added 11:39 - Jul 29 Good to see David return and hoping that he can recreate the form he was in last season which, if he remained fit, would have probably resulted in us reaching the play offs. Agree with @ArnieM that team this year looks more capable of surprising opposition as we were a bit predictable last season against better teams. Also, according to the twitter feed, there is some transfer activity being announced at 12pm today

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essextractorboy93 added 12:16 - Jul 29 Great news, hopefully he can play some part against Fulham but let's not rush him back. He has been out for 6 months. I expect he will play against Crawley in the cup. Murphy and Nouble will start against Fulham.
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Surco72 added 12:19 - Jul 29 Transfer activity is that Vesali has gone for half a season . Still think we will be hard to beat but will not have enough to open up good teams or be able to keep the ball . Mid table finish beckons without creative signings , Dids will be targeted as we will be very predictable
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karls_dad added 12:58 - Jul 29 Surco you are spot on with your post! could not agree more, another really good striker or two is a desperate need....
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karls_dad added 12:59 - Jul 29 Please send Nouble to Australia...............................one way ticket!
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JoeDickerson420 added 13:06 - Jul 29 More possitive new's to keep up with the possitive start to the pre season. have plent of faith we can keep this running through out the season and fingers crossed we can have some big smiles come the end of the season. HAPPY DAYS
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 13:35 - Jul 29 Transfer news is Veseli going on loan till January (Port Vale). Great to see Didz back, all the best David. :)
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Hoppersblue10 added 15:00 - Jul 29 ArnieM, your post deserves to be on Have I got news for you, "Spot the odd one out".! Wecome back Didsy.!
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