The Town squad fly out to Germany this afternoon for their pre-season training camp and midfielder Cole Skuse says it’s something the players have been looking forward to, even if they know it’s going to be hard work.
The Blues face Bundesliga side SC Paderborn in their first friendly on Saturday before taking part in the Interwetten Cup in Meppen on Sunday 14th July before flying back the following day.
"We're all looking forward to it and it should be a good trip," Skuse told iFollow Ipswich.
"We're under the instructions that it will be 10 days where we're very close and spending a lot of time with each other - that will be brilliant for the new lads that have come in.
"Some of the younger guys, that haven't been on many pre-season trips, should enjoy it too. We're there to bond and I think that's important.
"It will be hard work but nice to travel around for our games and see some different places.
"I've also been told to prepare a few of my famous quizzes for the lads when we've got some downtime.”
Yesterday, new striker James Norwood and midfielder Alan Judge joined up with the squad having been given additional time off following their involvement in the play-offs with Tranmere and with the Republic of Ireland squad respectively.
Germany bound #Aufweidersenpet pic.twitter.com/l9Q1YgqBRS– Jimmy Walker (@jimmywalker001) July 4, 2019
🔜🇩🇪 #itfc pic.twitter.com/RYjcZ1OKuV
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) July 4, 2019
Look who's here 👀🙌 pic.twitter.com/A3CgKx9HUr
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) July 4, 2019
You can find details of Town’s pre-season fixtures ahead of 2019/20 here.
Meanwhile, ex-Town striker Daryl Murphy, 36, is reported to have been told he can leave Nottingham Forest by new manager Sabri Lamouchi.
The Irish international frontman has a year left on his contract at the City Ground.
Elsewhere, Murphy's former Blues team-mate Damien Delaney, 37, has announced his retirement from the game having left Waterford, where he has been skipper since the start of the Irish season.