Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill believes Blues striker David McGoldrick adds something “a wee bit different” to his squad. On Thursday, the 28-year-old, who returned to action in the final weeks of Town’s season having been out since December with a hamstring injury, was named in O’Neill’s 35-man provisional squad ahead of the Friday 27th May friendly against Holland in Dublin.
O’Neill says McGoldrick "has got a lot of talent” and can link up play and isn’t in his squad just for the sake of it.
"No, [it’s] because he has got back into the side,” he said. "I went down to watch Ipswich play and I knew that Daryl [Murphy] wouldn’t be playing in the game but there was a chance that McGoldrick would play.
"He has played a number of games now. I thought that the first half in the game against MK Dons he was exceptional.
"I thought he did very well, scored a goal, got a bit of confidence from that.
"He is very good at linking play. It’s really his fitness. He is getting a little run of games now. Hopefully he will be involved in our squad anyway. He will definitely be with us [for the Holland friendly].
"He does add something a wee bit different. It would be his fitness that I would have to take into consideration.” Meanwhile, on-loan Blues defender Matt Clarke missed Portsmouth's 2-2 draw with Plymouth in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final at Fratton Park on Thursday. The 19-year-old is considered a doubt ahead of Sunday's second leg at Home Park as he recovers from a groin injury. Elsewhere, former Blues boss Joe Royle and ex-Town loanee David Unsworth will be in charge of Everton for their final game of the season against Norwich at Goodison Park on Sunday, manager Roberto Martinez having been sacked on Thursday. Unsworth is the U21s coach at Goodison Park, while Royle works with the Toffeemen's academy players.
O'Neill with his assistant, former Town boss Roy Keane
What to read next:
Blues quintet Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor, Sammie Szmodics, Kasey McAteer and Chieo Ogbene could all add to the international caps when the Republic of Ireland face Hungary in their opening World Cup qualifier against Hungary at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin this evening (Amazon Prime, KO 7.45pm).
Striker George Hirst won his fifth full cap from the bench as Scotland drew 0-0 with Denmark in Copenhagen in their opening World Cup qualifier.
Blues boss Kieran McKenna has spoken about the club setting its sights further afield when it came to recruitment this summer having previously concentrated on the domestic market.
Manager Kieran McKenna says it was a busy and emotional last week of the transfer window with the Blues signing four players and seeing key men from the back-to-back promotion side, Luke Woolfenden and Conor Chaplin, moving on.
Blues CEO and chairman Mark Ashton admits it’s been a tough transfer window and he’s glad that it’s now shut.
Ipswich Town Women will aim to be competitive and exciting to watch ahead of their maiden season in WSL 2, according to captain Maria Boswell.
Ipswich Town Women’s youngster Kaci-Jai Bonwick has signed her first professional deal with the club.
Blues on-loan winger Chieo Ogbene says his outlook on life has been change for the better by his nine months on the sidelines having ruptured his achilles.
Ipswich Town Women make their WSL2 debut when they take on Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon with manager Joe Sheehan outlining what he would view as a successful campaign (KO 2pm, live on YouTube).
Ipswich Town Women’s captain Maria Boswell says leading the side out for their first-ever WSL 2 fixture against Southampton this weekend is something she has dreamed of for a long time.