Striker David McGoldrick has been named in the Town squad for tonight’s penultimate pre-season friendly at Southend United (KO 7.45pm). McGoldrick, last season’s 16-goal top scorer, has been out of action since February with knee injuries.
The 26-year-old returned to training with the rest of the squad last week with manager Mick McCarthy happy with his progress: "He’s looking fit, he did everything.
"Of course he’s a bit ring rusty because he’s coming back from a long-term injury, but in terms of his fitness and his knee, he’s fine.”
Also included in a 24-man party travelling to Roots Hall to take on the League Two club will be trialists Kevin Bru and Balint Bajner, who both played at Gillingham on Saturday.
Midfielder Jay Tabb returns having missed that game with a minor knock, but Stephen Hunt again misses out, due to his calf problem.
Town last faced the Shrimpers in a friendly two years ago when the home side won 2-1. Kane Ferdinand opened the scoring before he saw a header deflect off Luke Chambers and into the net to make it 2-0, with the Blues’ reply a late Mark Phillips own goal.
Town probable: Gerken, Bialkowski, Parr, Mings, Hewitt, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Clarke, Skuse, Hyam, Wordsworth, Bru, Bishop, Anderson, Henshall, Stewart, Tabb, McGoldrick, Murphy, Marriott, Taylor, Nouble, Bajner.