Boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll assess how striker David McGoldrick came through Town’s final pre-season friendly at Leyton Orient before deciding on his level of involvement in the Blues’ opening fixture of the Championship season at home to Fulham next Saturday (Sky Sports 1/HD1, KO 5.15pm). The 26-year-old seems unlikely to start against the Cottagers having made only two sub appearances in friendlies since returning from seven months out with knee problems.
McCarthy replaced McGoldrick, who had come on at half-time at Brisbane Road having played the final 20 minutes at Southend, two minutes from the end as a precaution.
"I think he was disappointed to be coming off, but he’d done enough,” the Town manager said. "I didn’t want him to get a kick in the last few minutes of the game.”
While impressed with McGoldrick’s contribution against the O’s and Shrimpers, McCarthy warns that league games are a significant step up: "They were pre-season friendlies. As much as that was competitive, it’s not Fulham at home, it’s not Reading away.
"We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and beyond. He certainly makes a difference when he’s playing for us.”
The Town manager is expecting a tough first month with relegated former Premier League sides Fulham and Norwich the first visitors to Portman Road.
"We’ve got two of them that have come down in the first month,” he added. "I went to watch Norwich against Nice and I thought they were excellent.
"Birmingham and Reading are going to be scrapping around with us but I think the other two will be competing for promotion.”