Ticket sales for Tuesday’s England U21s Euro 2015 qualifier against Lithuania at Portman Road are closing in on the 15,000 mark with plenty more fans expected to pay at the gate on the night (KO 6pm, live on BT Sport).
Gareth Southgate's squad's morning training session relocated to Colchester United's Florence Park training ground in Tiptree due to waterlogging at their base at the Five Lakes Hotel near Maldon.
Southgate, pictured above with his assistant Steve Holland, told the club site that he is looking forward to the match, his first at Portman Road as a manager: "I have mixed memories in terms of results there as a player. I don’t remember winning too many times.
"As someone who loves their football history, I grew up watching the likes of Frans Thijssen, Arnold Muhren, Alan Brazil and those guys of that era.
"Whenever I go back to grounds like Portman Road I always think back to those who have trod there in the past.
"I know Ipswich fans are knowledgeable supporters and like the game played in a certain style and we will be doing everything we can to play in that fashion.”
Tickets for the game cost £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and can be bought online from ITFC Direct. A family ticket can be purchased for £20 by calling 0871 964 2116. Seats are now available in the East of England Co-Op Stand blocks Y, N and O. They will also be on sale at Planet Blue until 4.30pm when they will be available for cash on the East of England Co-Op Stand turnstiles at no additional cost. Town, who stand to make a low five-figure sum from the match, are advising fans to arrive in good time given the early start and usual rush hour traffic congestion. Portman Road and Sir Alf Ramsey Way will be closed from 4.15pm to 8.15pm. Those attending will also be able to watch the England-Poland World Cup qualifier in Legends with kick-off at Wembley at 8pm. The U21s beat San Marino 4-0 away on Thursday night in the first of the two Euro 2015 qualifiers with Tottenham’s Harry Kane netting a hat-trick and Manchester United’s Michael Keane grabbing the other goal. The last U21 match at Portman Road was against Moldova in August 2006 and ended in a 2-2 draw with debutant Theo Walcott and David Nugent on the scoresheet. Prior to that, Town hosted the full England side in August 2003 when they defeated Croatia 3-1 in a friendly. Portman Road has also been the venue for England U21 matches against Switzerland (1980, 5-0), Romania (1985, 3-0), Albania (1989, 2-0) and the Czech Republic (1998, 0-1). An U23 side including ex-Blues boss Joe Royle drew 1-1 with Switzerland in 1971. In 2001/02, an England U19s squad including Town’s Darren Bent and Matt Bloomfield beat Germany 3-1. The ground also played host to a 1959 pre-Olympic Games friendly between Great Britain and the Caribbean FA ahead of the 1960 Games in Rome. U21s: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Jack Butland (Barnsley, on loan from Stoke City), George Long (Sheffield United), Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon), Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal), Michael Keane (Manchester United), Jack Robinson (Blackpool, on loan from Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Southampton), John Stones (Everton), Tom Carroll (QPR, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Chalobah (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Chelsea), Will Hughes (Derby County), Ravel Morrison (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Sammy Ameobi (Newcastle United), Tom Ince (Blackpool), Jesse Lingard (Birmingham City, on loan from Manchester United), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Ings (Burnley), Nick Powell (Wigan Athletic, on loan from Manchester United).What to read next:
Former Blues loanee Jens Cajuste’s future could now be in Saudi Arabia with Neom the latest club to show interest in signing the Napoli midfielder on loan.
Ligue 1 Toulouse are reportedly showing interest in Blues striker Ali Al-Hamadi.
Ipswich Town Women have re-signed midfielder Ruby Doe for a third spell, this time on a permanent basis.
Town are reported to be among a number of Championship clubs showing interest in free agent Scotland international striker Oli McBurnie.
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Town are still to accept a bid from Championship new boys Wrexham for Wales international Nathan Broadhead, TWTD understands.
Academy central midfielder Usisya Longwe has joined Isthmian North Division Felixstowe & Walton on loan.
Assistant manager Martyn Pert believes new signing Ashley Young will be a “real asset” for the Blues in the season ahead, the former England international having made his first appearance in a Town shirt in last night’s 2-1 friendly victory over Charlton Athletic at Colchester’s JobServe Community Stadium.
Young Blues central defender Jacob Mazionis has completed his season-long loan switch to League Two Cheltenham Town.
Town are understood to have agreed a fee from Wrexham for forward Nathan Broadhead.