Town manager Joe Royle says that trialist Mark Rivers will win a contract with the Blues if he does well on this week's tour of Denmark. The 20-man Town squad left Heathrow for Scandinavia this lunchtime.

Manager Joe Royle said of Rivers: "Mark will have every chance over the next six days to show us what he can do. His past will have no reflection on our decision.

"Andy Marshall, as we all know, received plenty of stick from Town fans having been signed from Norwich, but to be honest Andy did not always cover himself with glory on the field.

"If Mark comes and scores plenty of goals for us and plays his part in midfield then that is all that I will ask."

Rivers himself is not bothered by any anti-Norwich reaction to him being with the Blues: "I know the challenge in front of me having been released by
Norwich.

"My target is to earn a permanent deal at Portman Road and I am not bothered about any reaction I might receive for being an ex-Canary.

"I am aware that there might be some fans who are anti-Norwich and might get on my back, but I hail from Cheshire and there is no great interest for me in saying that Norwich is a better club than Ipswich."

Youngsters Scott Mitchell and Scott Barron will start tomorrow's match against Randers with Royle keen for them to impress: "This is a massive time for the youngsters in the party and I always enjoy these pre-season trips. They help to bond the squad together and we will be working hard throughout the week."

Squad: Davis, Price, Wilnis, Richards, Mitchell, Barron, De Vos, Naylor, Diallo, Santos, Magilton, Horlock, Westlake, Miller, Murray, Rivers, Bent, Couñago, Kuqi, Bowditch.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls