Boss Mick McCarthy says the Blues’ pre-season programme will follow the now familiar format with the squad spending time at a training camp in Ireland, although this year they will play their first friendly against Drogheda United rather than Shelbourne, their Irish opponents for the previous four summers, as well as having games at Southend, Colchester and other more local sides.
Quizzed on his pre-season plans McCarthy said that after the first couple of weeks training back at Playford Road the squad will be making their now-annual trip to the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare.
"Yes, same-same, friendlies,” he said. "We’re not at Shelbourne though, we’re at Drogheda, north of Dublin. Then the usual, Southend, Colchester and other games around here.”
The dates for the matches are still to be confirmed. Drogheda are currently seventh in the Airtricity League Premier Division (top tier in Ireland).