Boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll assess how striker David McGoldrick came through Town’s final pre-season friendly at Leyton Orient before deciding on his level of involvement in the Blues’ opening fixture of the Championship season at home to Fulham next Saturday (Sky Sports 1/HD1, KO 5.15pm). The 26-year-old seems unlikely to start against the Cottagers having made only two sub appearances in friendlies since returning from seven months out with knee problems.

McCarthy replaced McGoldrick, who had come on at half-time at Brisbane Road having played the final 20 minutes at Southend, two minutes from the end as a precaution.

“I think he was disappointed to be coming off, but he’d done enough,” the Town manager said. “I didn’t want him to get a kick in the last few minutes of the game.”

While impressed with McGoldrick’s contribution against the O’s and Shrimpers, McCarthy warns that league games are a significant step up: “They were pre-season friendlies. As much as that was competitive, it’s not Fulham at home, it’s not Reading away.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and beyond. He certainly makes a difference when he’s playing for us.”

The Town manager is expecting a tough first month with relegated former Premier League sides Fulham and Norwich the first visitors to Portman Road.

“We’ve got two of them that have come down in the first month,” he added. “I went to watch Norwich against Nice and I thought they were excellent.

“Birmingham and Reading are going to be scrapping around with us but I think the other two will be competing for promotion.”

Photo: Action Images

hoppy added 07:21 - Aug 4 'Birmingham' in that last paragraph... Don't you mean Cardiff?
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 07:55 - Aug 4 "Birmingham are going to be scrapping around with us but I think the other two will be competing for promotion.” Not the best statement of intent before a new season I've ever heard from an Ipswich manager.
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JimmyJazz added 08:07 - Aug 4 I don't see us being anywhere near Cardiff, so that doesn't make sense either. Of the 3 relegated teams Cardiff and Fulham should be very strong
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bring_back_Wickham added 08:11 - Aug 4 Well way to inspire us, scrapping with birmingham. Could have sworn they were saved from relegation by a 90th minute goal.
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PhilTWTD added 08:12 - Aug 4 Hoppy Just had a re-listen to check what he said and he mentions Reading as well - gust of wind rather obscured what he said at that point so I missed it first time around - so was talking about the first month's opponents. Have added Reading to the story.
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tractordownsouth added 08:21 - Aug 4 Surely no signings, ownership fiasco, lost top goal scorer reading will be near the bottom as will cash strapped, haven't won for a year at home Birmingham? So is Relegation the expectation?
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bluelady added 08:23 - Aug 4 What a bizarre comment is he saying we are not good enough before the season even starts? What kind of message is that and to whom?
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 08:36 - Aug 4 Oh do calm down dears!
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SouperJim added 08:44 - Aug 4 It's not complicated, Mick is saying he expects Fulham and Norwich to compete for the top 2, while Birmingham and Reading like us will not. I swear some of you leap at any opportunity to have a pop at Mick. Lets not forget that in 18 months he's transformed us from relegation certainties to play-off contenders. We can't have asked for much more.
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ruds added 08:52 - Aug 4 TEXT BOOK Mick. Dampen our expectations and whilst the dough is in the oven warming and we mull over our chances the desert begins to rise as the season goes on. As they say, proof will be in the pudding folks (and I'm saving a little bit of space for some excitement this season!) Come on you Bluuuuuuuuues!
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essextractorboy93 added 08:52 - Aug 4 Fulham will be a real test, hard to judge how well they will be this season after so many changes. They do still have some really quality experienced players mixed in with some good academy players coming through. Hopefully McGoldrick can come on as a sub towards the end but I think he will feature more in the Crawley match the week after. I still think we should have optimism for the season ahead! COYB!

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Kirbmeister added 08:58 - Aug 4 MM is just being honest. Don't expect great things this season it will be another solid one though. We are in loads of Debt and wont be splashing £ millions on anyone cos the cash isn't there.
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Binner added 09:01 - Aug 4 Perhaps some of those commenting above want MM to say "We'll roll over the likes of Birmingham and Reading.'' I can't think of a better way of instilling complacency into the players...
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unstableblue added 09:53 - Aug 4 Don't play McGoldrick against Fulham Mick. Give him as much time as possible to get fully fit. The squad is weak in an attacking sense, and a season without McGoldrick will be dull I'm afraid
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cooper4england added 09:53 - Aug 4 Bon appetit, Michelin 5 star comment ruds
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jas0999 added 10:02 - Aug 4 I can't see that McGoldrick can be remotely match fit. Looks like Nouble/Murphy - who didn't exactly excell with goal scoring this pre season. Added with a midfield of Hyam/Skuse - I yet again reiterate that I fail to see where the goals are coming from.
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runningout added 10:09 - Aug 4 I repeat McGoldrick is an average forward who excelled last season... it concerns me we are highlighting his return, whenever it will be..........
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nassyboyitfc added 11:19 - Aug 4 I think Birmingham could be pusing this season....who knows? they have brought in a fair few players and did their business early, gave the new players time to gel!! Mick knows more than us how long has he been in football eh? I'm hoping Big Dave is involved at some stage of the game, start with Murphy and Bajner up front and bring Didzy on if needed!! For those of you who think Didzy is average come on he's only 26 about to enter his prime COYB!!!!

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Devereuxxx added 11:44 - Aug 4 If there was any team in the league I wouldn't want to be associated with at the moment it's Birmingham. Think their in dire straits for the new season. But, sure Mick just means they're another team with a limited budget etc, not actually saying we'll be in the exact same boat as them. Would like to see Murphy and Bajner start the Fulham game. Nouble just doesn't inspire in anyway. Honestly, he's the only current member of our squad that I do not like to see on the team sheet. Mcgoldrick coming on after 60/65 minutes would be ideal. Let him ease his way back in, before belting in 4 past Norwich.

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Akaroablue added 11:47 - Aug 4 My concern is that to gain promotion we need a goal scorer achieving 20 goals and the midfield doing the same collectively, can we count on that! what we have in our armoury I am not convinced. We will be solid if not spectacular from the back, so shouldn't concede many goals, but scoring goals may be our problem. I hope I am being to pessimistic.
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NSL added 13:28 - Aug 4 Akaroablue - NO - you need two goal scorers getting 15 - 20 each as well as a midfielder hitting double figures. In fact we had that with Kuqi and Bent along with ammunition from Miller and Ambrose and still only manged 3rd!! It wont be pretty but we will play a game of soaking it up, hoofing it upfield to Bajner or Murphy hoping they will get on the end of something, which they will occasionally, and hopefully it wil keep us in the middle of the table and NOT scrapping around at the bottom with Birmingham.

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Toronto_Tractor added 14:27 - Aug 4 I don't agree with the comments suggesting Dave is average. For our league, he is above average, and in terms of recent ipswich strikers, he's practically immortal in comparison. Without his clinical finishing and his ability to hold the ball up and bring others in to play at the end of last season, we slipped out of the playoff places. Could be a slow burner, but I think he's a got a 20 goal season ahead of him. COYB!

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TimmyH added 14:34 - Aug 4 Surely to state that we'll be' scraping around' (if meant by aiming for the play-offs, which for a moment I don't believe Birmingham will) is not the best of intent before the season starts in a very competitive league. So it's Mick being canny then? as if everybody knows him and what he's thinking. Already committing to say our first month is 'tough' as per last season and we all know how that started. @Binner - haven't you been listening to Mick since he's been here!?! with his pre and post match interviews how he continually talks about how strong the opposition is (regardless of who they are) - it would be refreshing if MM had more confidence in his pre-match interviews by saying what we can do to beat teams!

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TimmyH added 14:37 - Aug 4 ...you have to be as ambitious as possible, it's like being 100m runner and say let's see if we can get 3rd spot out of 8 - so Mick has ruled out automatic promotion already?
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tractorboybig added 15:36 - Aug 4 Mcgoldrick is the most overated player in this squad. Two murphys anyday. Nouble well, Mick must have a bet on us for relegation if he plays him.
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