Town boss Mick McCarthy says it’s important for his side to put on a show for fans at this afternoon’s final friendly of pre-season against Belgian second tier side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (KO 3pm). The season proper gets under way next Saturday when McCarthy’s hometown club Barnsley, where he started his playing career, visit Portman Road.
"It’s important that the people who come and see us are excited by it,” the Blues boss said. "I heard all the fans [at Thursday’s open day] saying they’re excited the season’s coming, as we are.
"But we need to entertain them, to enthuse them, to get them back and wanting to come through the door to watch us.
"It’s important from that point of view and it would be nice to go into the Barnsley game on the back of a win.”
McCarthy, who has been keen to get his side to play a more possession-based game during pre-season, the Blues having been criticised for their style of play last term, admits he knows little of today’s opponents.
"Absolutely nothing,” he said. "Not being disrespectful to them, but I don’t. I don’t watch the Belgian top league too often, to be quite honest, [let alone the second division].
"I don’t but I will respect them just like everybody else. It’s up to us to play how we want to play and to get at them.”
Brussels-based Royale Union finished sixth in their division last year and are a club with a strong history behind them. They have won 11 Belgian league titles, however, the last of those was in 1935.
Les Unionistes were involved in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup during the 1960s but in recent years have played their football in the second and on occasion the third tier.
Striker Brett Pitman (toe) and midfielder Luke Hyam (knee) are not expected to be involved this afternoon but are thought likely to be fit for the Barnsley game. Dean Gerken has missed the last two friendlies with a hamstring problem and wasn't involved in Thursday's open training session at Portman Road.
Midfielder Giles Coke was training with fitness coach Andy Liddell at the open day but is unlikely to be ready to be involved today having undergone knee surgery at the end of last season.
Trialist left winger Roland Lamah could again be given a chance to impress having played in the 0-0 draw at Charlton on Tuesday.
As at The Valley, McCarthy will look to give many of his starting XI - a side which probably won’t be too far from the team which lines up against the Tykes next week - the full 90 minutes.
Tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £1 for under-16s.