Town travel to Colchester United this evening for the first of their three domestic pre-season friendlies (KO 7.30pm).
Having given his players 45 minutes each at Paderborn and at the Interwetten Cup in Meppen last weekend, manager Paul Lambert, a former Colchester boss, is expected to give his starting XI 60 minutes this evening.
It’s likely those involved for the last half hour will start and be given 60 minutes at Notts County on Tuesday before Lambert fields a team which may be close to the one which lines-up at Burton on the opening day of the League One campaign in the final friendly at Cambridge United next Saturday.
New loan signing Luke Garbutt is expected to make his first appearance in a Blues shirt either at left-back or wide in midfield against one of his previous loan sides this evening.
As revealed on Wednesday, former Lincoln City defender James Wilson is on trial with the Blues and Lambert could well run the rule over the 30-year-old at the JobServe Community Stadium with Town short on experienced centre-halves given Nsiala’s injury and with skipper Luke Chambers suspended for the opening day game against the Brewers.
The Blues, who go into the game looking for their first win of pre-season, will be without a number of players against the League Two U’s with Teddy Bishop ruled out for three months with medial ligament damage.
Toto Nsiala is expected to be out for around six weeks after tearing his hamstring last weekend, while Jack Lankester has suffered a recurrence of the back problem which prematurely ended his 2018/19.
Still on the way back from the injuries they picked up at the end of the season are Jon Nolan (calf) and Gwion Edwards (groin), although the latter has stepped up his training and isn’t too far away from a return to action. Freddie Sears (ACL), who was with the U's prior to joining Town, is expected back in November.
Alan Judge has trained but has so far not played in any of the games having suffered a broken wrist on international duty with the Republic of Ireland last month and is again not expected to be involved.
We can confirm that @ColU_Official have made Block E3 available to purchase for all ITFC supporters in advance at the following web address: https://t.co/GlfNqZf9Wg– Ipswich Town FC Tickets (@ITFC_Tickets) July 19, 2019
The U's are managed by former Blues defender John McGreal, while keeper Dean Gerken left Portman Road at the end of last season.
Another ex-Town defender, Tom Eastman, is a stalwart of the Colchester backline, while they added one-time Blues academy defender Omar Sowunmi to their squad from Yeovil over the summer. Full-back Kane Vincent-Young spent time on trial at Town last summer but ultimately wasn't offered a contract.
Striker Frank Nouble was with Town between 2013 and 2015, while midfielder Diaz Wright is the son of former Blues midfielder Jermaine.
Colchester's director of football is another ex-Town defender Tony Humes, while Richard Hall - a Town supporter and youth player as a youngster - and Sean Thacker both work in their academy having previously coached at Playford Road.
Former Blues midfielder David Gregory is Colchester's press and communications officer.
Town are taking a following of 2,200 to North Essex with tickets still available. Fans are advised to arrive early to avoid queues.
The teams will meet again at the Jobserve Community Stadium on Tuesday 12th November, in competitive action on that occasion in the EFL Trophy.
Probable squad: Bialkowski, Holy, Donacien, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Garbutt, Clements, Chambers (c), Ndaba, Woolfenden, Wilson, Skuse, Huws, Downes, Dozzell, Nydam, El Mizouni, Dobra, Rowe, Roberts, Norwood, Jackson.