Defender Adam Webster is set to play his first game of pre-season at Gillingham on Saturday afternoon (KO 3pm), while keeper Bartosz Bialkowski will return to the squad having been unwell for the 3-1 win at Peterborough on Tuesday.

Webster is over the ankle injury which has sidelined him for Town’s first three friendlies, the 5-0 win at Drogheda, the 4-1 behind-closed-doors victory over Southend and Tuesday’s defeat of Posh.

Andre Dozzell is back with the squad after helping the England U19s to win the European Championships and may feature, while Emyr Huws, who has had a sore calf, and Tom Adeyemi, another who has been ill, are also yet to feature during pre-season.

As has been the case in all the friendlies so far, a number of youngsters, including midfielder Flynn Downes, who signed a new three-year deal earlier in the week, will make the trip to Kent.

Striker Joe Garner will be looking to add to his five goals in three games against the Gills, who are managed by Ipswich-born Adrian Pennock. Ex-Blues midfielder Lee Martin is among the playing staff at the Priestfield Stadium.

Town were last at Gillingham for a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2014 when goals from Alex Henshall and Luke Hyam saw them to a 2-0 win.

Following the Gills match the Blues travel to Colchester on Tuesday (KO 7.30pm) and then Charlton for their final friendly a week on Saturday (KO 3pm).

Photo: TWTD

mathiemagic added 15:10 - Jul 21 Not the most flattering picture !! Good to see them both back though.
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ITFC1983 added 15:16 - Jul 21 YES!
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iaintaylorx added 15:20 - Jul 21 Any news on Hyam, Phil?
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 15:20 - Jul 21 More Garner goals please, he needs to hit the ground running when we kick off.
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PhilTWTD added 15:42 - Jul 21 iaintaylorx No, not heard anything beyond Mick saying he'd stayed at home when they went to Ireland as he was recovering from the ankle injury. I would guess they're taking it slowly.
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Len_Brennan added 15:53 - Jul 21 Great headline to be reading, almost as pleasing as the announcement of a new signing wold be. A fit Bart & Webster are vital if we are going to have any class of a decent season ahead. They are also probably our most saleable assets, so keeping them at the club is hugely important, notwithstanding the crazy money being spent at the moment.
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yungblue added 15:53 - Jul 21 Next three games over the week will be more of a test before the season. Good preparation for the season ahead. Good to hear Webster and Bart are back. Probably feel it would be beneficial for two out of Hyam, Bishop and Dozzell should go out on loan for the season as we have many numbers in CM now.
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Ferguson added 17:24 - Jul 21 No injuries and no more sales pre-season and I'll be happy. COYB.
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Charlie_pl_baxter added 18:16 - Jul 21 That's a nasty gurn he's got there, hope it doesn't keep him out for too long.
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TBT added 18:30 - Jul 21 In my opinion Hyam is lucky to be "one of our own" - he's nowhere near skilful enough for any other Championship club. Possibly a squad player but his stats on pass completion are laughable at this level. Raw passion and reckless leg breaking tackling are not enough. Great news on Bart and Webster, they are critical players.
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jas0999 added 18:52 - Jul 21 Bart is critical for us next season. Gerken is adequate, but nowhere near as good. So, if Bart left we could have problems. With him, we should be comfortable.
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PortmanTerrorist added 19:39 - Jul 21 Hyam is a player that could deliver passion and tempo. Pass completion comes easier when players pass and move. Not something we are famous for under Mick. Despite being a fan, difficult to see him taking a CM spot. Good back up for Skuse as holding player unless Mick feels he can trust Dozza in the holding role he was used in by England and our youth teams.
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runningout added 19:49 - Jul 21 a little sad we haven't bought in a couple more new players, that make us more watchable. Verdict still out on Celina
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muhrensleftfoot added 20:52 - Jul 21 A fit Luke Hyam would be an asset to any Championship side. A real shame that he continues to struggle with his fitness. I for one, hope that he returns and shows all the doubters that he can do it at this level and maybe more. It would be great to have "one of our own" running the midfield and getting all the plaudits.
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Brownie added 22:29 - Jul 21 Hi runningout - I don't normally mention people by name on here but what do you mean verdict out on Celina? Surely we are not gauging a players worth after 2 games pre-season? He may be good or maybe not but we have to give the lad a few months to show us what he can do. I think he'll do well - playing the youngsters is the way forward in my view but not sure MM will feel the same! Opinions differ though.,;

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shakytown added 07:25 - Jul 22 I fail to understand what people see in Hyam. Average at very best and not even good enough for a game while at Rotherham last season. Just because he's a local boy does not mean he's good enough.
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osborne1nil added 08:34 - Jul 22 Hyam wasn't on loan at Rotherham last season Shakytown as he was injured. The season before he was and he played 5 games for them in the short time he was there. Personally I feel he offers more than Skuse in energy and helping to put pressure on the opponents. I think the team has missed that energy and only wished some of the other players would put in as much effort at times. I daresay the lack of passing football that Mick appears to has bypassed with the hoof ball from the back has not helped any of the midfield as I believe Ipswich have one of the lowest passing statistics in the division. Hoping it will change this year.

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shakytown added 09:37 - Jul 22 Osborne 1nil. Where has having a team full of high energy no skill players got us ????? hyam can kick as many shins as he likes but it won't help create any goals. His passing skills are at about the same level as the girl next door and she doesn't even play football. Sadly Muck likes players who kick people and put themselves about that's why we are the most boring club in the league.

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Brownie added 09:43 - Jul 22 I'd go with Skuse above Hyam tbh but every team needs someone to win the ball & do the dirty work. The top ones can play as well and cost fortunes. In my view Skuse is good at what he does at this level. The issue is playing others to provide the creativity & MM does not do that enough. Hopefully Huws, Celina, Bishop,Dozell etc can help us in that area rather than playing the likes of Bru, Douglas & sometimes even defenders out of position. Will MM be positive and go for it? We will see.. COYB!

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osborne1nil added 10:55 - Jul 22 If your looking for goals shakytown then you need to look elsewhere than Skuse as 1 goal is all he has scored in all his games for Town. Hyam didn't play last season and the football was dire so you can't blame him for that. Skuse and Hyam are not goal scoring players and have been used more as defensive midfielders by Mick rather than attacking, agreed this doesn't make exciting football but has been MM tactics on the players at his disposal. Having leaked more goals with a top class keeper in place I think part of that can be down to likes of Douglas and Bru having played. It is a long time since we had a decent midfield and probably goes back to Magilton and Holland. Hopefully more attacking choices this year and perhaps more goals from midfield as historically when Town have down well they have had midfielders who have controlled the play and not only created goals but scored their share too.

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