Boss Mick McCarthy was pleased to see the Blues win their pre-season game at Southend 2-1, particularly as the match was played on a difficult Roots Hall surface, and was delighted to see talismanic frontman David McGoldrick return to match action.
"We won another pre-season friendly, it’s still nice to win, despite the fact I’m not bothered about the match,” he said.
"The pitch made it an unbelievable difficult game, so it was a good 45 minutes each way for the lads, some got a bit more.
"The game was poor, it was hard work because of the pitch, the grass was so long but they’re protecting it because they’ve got so many games on it.”
Amongst the highlights for McCarthy was McGoldrick’s return as a sub: "It was great to get Didz on the pitch, great to see Balint score, the finish that he had, and Woody getting in the box and scoring."
He says McGoldrick was understandably pleased to finally get back on the field: "Of course, I did give him the option. I nearly made the decision myself not to play him because of the pitch because you can soon stick your studs in there and twist and turn and find you’ve got sore knee.
"But he went out at half-time and said he was all right, and he looked it. He’s just short of match practice, but you could see his silky touches.”
He added: "How short of match practice is he? He got injured in February. That’s his first 20 minutes and we’re now at the end of July.
"That’s six or seven months he just not played. I think it’s remarkable, actually, he’s only had three or four training sessions with the team.”
When does McCarthy envisage McGoldrick getting involved once the season proper gets underway a week on Saturday? "When he’s fit. You’re asking me for a day or a date, I haven’t got one because I don’t know how he’s going to feel tomorrow.
"Is he going to feel stiff and sore? Will he be able to train tomorrow? Probably because he’s a fit lad. ASAP is when we want him fit and available but that will be done with due care and attention so we don’t get him injured.”