Town boss Mick McCarthy says Jay Tabb has done well at left-back in recent friendlies and views him as an option for the role if required. Tabb and the rest of the first team squad play their fourth pre-season game at Peterborough United this afternoon (KO 3pm).

The 31-year-old, more usually a left-sided or central midfielder, has filled in at left-back in the last two friendlies with Jonny Parr - Town's only recognised senior left-back since Tyrone Mings was sold to AFC Bournemouth for an initial £8 million - missing due to a minor thigh problem.

McCarthy says he knows Tabb will never let him down wherever he plays him: “I know full well what Tabby will give me, he’s just a great pro. He’s done all right, he did fine at left-back. It’s an option.”

Tabb, whose stay at Town was extended to the end of 2015/16 when an option for an additional year was activated on his contract in May, seems unlikely to start at left-back at London Road with Parr having returned to training earlier in the week and set to be involved.

Midfielder Darren Ambrose, who is training with the Blues as he looks to win another contract, is also fit after a minor knock and will also make the trip.

Striker Daryl Murphy, who was given extra time off having been on international duty and then eased back into training having suffered injuries in pre-season in previous years, will play his first friendly against League One Posh.

David McGoldrick and Christophe Berra will be involved in their second games having featured at Cambridge on Tuesday. As at the Abbey Stadium, McCarthy plans to give his senior players around 60 minutes each.

McCarthy has said he’s looking to add “two or three” more senior players to his squad, while he views youngsters such as Josh Emmanuel, Josh Yorwerth and Myles Kenlock, who have been involved with the first-team squad in the first three pre-season matches, as players who can play a part during the season if not yet up to being regulars.

“I have 13 fit first-teamers that I know I can hang my hat on and then I’ve got Murph and Jonny Parr coming back,” he said, reflecting on the make up of his team at Cambridge on Tuesday.

“I reckon I’ve got 15 that absolutely know they’re top players in this league. I had to take [the starting line-up] out of them. I’ve got 17 with keepers.”

The Town boss is in no doubt what the main concern is when going into pre-season matches: “Getting fit. I prefer to win but it really is just about being ready for the start of the season.

“I’ve been in enough pre-seasons where you win all the games, everybody thinks you’re great and then you lose the first game.

“You lose them all and everybody thinks you should be sacked before the season starts, and then you have a great run at the start of the season.

“They are just a pain in the backside, pre-season games. They are a means to an end, get fit and let’s get cracking on with the season.”

Peterborough boss Dave Robertson says facing the Blues will be a useful workout for his side: “Ipswich will provide a really good test for us. They are a strong Championship side and are ideal opponents at this time in pre-season.

“We have done well in pre-season so far both performance-wise and results-wise and we want that to continue.”

Midfielder Jack Collison, who was with the Blues for a short spell last season without breaking into the first team, is expected to play some part having joined Posh earlier in the summer.

After today’s match the Blues travel to Colchester on Tuesday (KO 7.45pm) before Dutch Eredivisie side Utrecht are at Portman Road next Saturday (KO 3pm) with the season proper kicking off at Brentford on Saturday 8th August (KO 3pm).

Photo: Action Images

RegencyBlue added 16:50 - Jul 25 I know many don't but I like Tabb. Having said that he isn't a fullback! I really don't get our fullback problems. We have been playing players out of position at right back for years and now we appear to be considering doing the same on the left. Why don't we get really radical and just sign proper fullbacks!
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wayway added 21:37 - Jul 25 He can play in goal as long as he doesn't play in midfield
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Marshalls_Mullet added 16:07 - Jul 26 Jas - it was just my opinion. Which as you state, I am perfectly entitled to. ;-)
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KiwiBlue2 added 04:49 - Jul 27 MM's comment through last season that "Tabbys different class" comes back like an echo. As some have said he is very clearly in MM's good books and we have to accept that he is always going to pop up in the starting line up or on the bench regardless of what we might think of him.
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