x

Sereni to Return? - Ipswich Town News

TWTD understands that Italian keeper Matteo Sereni may return to the Town line-up for tonight's crucial bottom of the table clash at Blackburn. Sereni has been out of the side since asking for a rest at Dagenham and Redbridge in January.

Andy Marshall has kept him out of the side since then, but if our information is right will pay for his error at Leeds last week.

George Burley is set to use the same 5-3-2 formation that he has used in Town's last two away games. Chris Makin and Jamie Clapham will be the wing-backs while Hermann Hreidarsson will be in the middle of a central three with John McGreal and Mark Venus.

Returning midfielder Sixto Peralta may start on the bench after missing two weeks training. Matt Holland, Jim Magilton and Finidi George are set to continue in the midfield. If Burley does decide to start with Peralta then it is likely that Magilton will drop out.

Jermaine Wright and Fabian Wilnis are also both available to George Burley after injuries. Town's only injury is Thomas Gaardsøe whose tendinitis rules him out for Saturday's match at Newcastle too.

Up front Marcus Bent is set to return alongside Alun Armstrong with Marcus Stewart, still out of sorts, dropping to the bench.

Blackburn manager Graeme Souness has said that Town owe their low position this season to the lack of a player scoring as many goals as Stewart did last season: "They had Marcus Stewart who scored a lot of goals for them last year and if one of their players had scored another 24 goals again this season then they'd probably be a lot higher than they are at the moment. But that happens with strikers. Sometimes they'll have a great year, then a not-so-good one, and then another good year again."

Marcus Bent will be returning to his old club for the first time since moving to Town at the end of last year. Souness said of the 23-year-old striker: "He is a good lad to work with and was popular among the players here. He is aggressive, has an eye for goal and is now playing regularly. I would only wish him well - but not against us."

The Rovers manager said recently that he didn't regret selling Bent and subsequently brought in Andy Cole, Souness explains: "We saw it as good business to make a bit of profit on him given what we had, and that our intentions were to bring in someone else like Andy Cole."

Craig Short is missing for the home side as he is suspended while second choice keeper Alan Kelly is out injured. Other than that Graeme Souness has his full squad to pick from.

Andy Cole starts his suspension after the Town game and he is likely to be up front with Matt Jansen. Brad Friedel will be in goal while new signing Hakan Unsal likely to be on the right of defence.

Henning Berg and Nissa Johansson are the likely centre-halves with David Dunn, Damien Duff, Tugay and Gary Flitcroft in the midfield. However, Graeme Souness has sprung surprises with his line-ups before this season so that could be subject to change.

The Blues will be lining up in all black for the one and only time. The kits worn by the players will be auctioned off for charity. The referee is Phil Dowd.

After the game Town's squad travel to Tyneside where they will set-up camp ahead of Saturday's match against Newcastle.

What to read next:

Emmanuel-Thomas Joins AFC Totton
Ex-Town forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has joined National League South AFC Totton following his release from prison on parole.
Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.
U21s in Action at Needham
Town’s U21s are in friendly action against Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market at Bloomfields this evening (KO 7.45pm).
Town Women to Host Villa U21s in Friendly
Ipswich Town Women will play a friendly against WSL side Aston Villa’s U21s at the Martello Ground in Felixstowe on Sunday 17th August (KO 2pm).