Town play the second game of their short Irish tour tonight against Bray Wanderers. Pablo Counago is likely to return while along with Titus Bramble who missed out against Dublin with a dead leg. Jamie Clapham has a pulled hamstring and so won't be involved.
Dublin-based TWTD reader Johnny Turner tells us a bit about Bray: "Bray have started the season quite well, beating Northampton Town 3-0, leaving ex-blue Kevin Wilson a far from happy man, especially as Wanderers made ten changes in the second half and Northampton still couldn¹t score.
Wanderers also drew 1-1 with Coventry City and really should have won, John Eustace converting a very harsh penalty with five minutes to go, after Wanderers took the lead though Fox in the 16th minute. Again, Wanderers made ten changes in the second half and were the better team overall.
Please note that the Carlisle Grounds, where Bray play is rather basic, with a ramshackle covered terrace on one side and uncovered seating on the
other. Lottery funding is on the way rather slowly. The pitch is quite superb and is one of the best in the country. There is no segregation and the natives are quite friendly! The only trouble recently was when Bristol Rovers visited the ground last season and a few Gasheads caused a bit of trouble on the seafront. A few of the pubs won't allow scarfs or hat of any team into the pubs after matches - a bit overfussy really The stadium is right beside the railway station - the DART rail service runs from Dublin every 30 minutes."
George Burley has said the fee for Finidi George is £3.1 million, however Real Mallorca president Mateo Alemany is still claiming that it is £3.7 million. Finidi is expected to sign on the dotted line today.
Burley said of the deal: "Finidi arrives in Ipswich sometime on Thursday and we will send off for the required documentation which, given his international experience over the past ten years, should be a formality. We are hoping he will be available to play against Sunderland."
At the Real Mallorca end Alemany said: "The important thing is that we have reached agreement. I have been more worried about last night's game than the Finidi negotiations."
Mallorca lost 1-0 to Hadjuk Split in the first leg of the Champions' League tie.
Burley confirmed that he is after another international player and reports say he already watched his target in Milan two weeks ago. It is likely that the player is a defender with the midfield, attack and goalkeeping positions already strengthened.
Titus Bramble has been included in the England U21 side to meet Holland next week. The full England squad is named tomorrow with Marcus Stewart and Jermaine Wright both hopeful of call-ups.
U21s: Kirkland (Coventry), Barry (Aston Villa), Johnson (Derby), Upson (Arsenal), Davis (Fulham), Dunn (Blackburn), Greening (Manchester United), Young (Charlton), Bridge (Southampton), Vassell (Aston Villa), Weaver (Manchester City), Chadwick (Manchester United), Jeffers (Arsenal), King (Tottenham), Pennant (Arsenal), Cole (West Ham), Terry (Chelsea), Parker (Charlton), Wright (Liverpool), Prutton (Nottingham Forest), Bramble (Ipswich), Ameobi (Newcastle), Riggott (Derby), Defoe (West Ham), Wilson (Manchester United), Christie (Derby), Taylor (Arsenal).
An Academy U18 side lost 4-3 at home to Derby County yesterday. The Town goals came from Matt Robinson, Guy Bonwick and Steve Burton. Robert Dickinson missed a penalty sending it over the bar.