x

Town End Week-Long Training Camp With Friendly at Blau-Weiß Linz - Ipswich Town News

Town end their week-long training camp when they face Austrian Bundesliga side Blau-Weiß Linz at their Hofmann Personal Stadion on Saturday evening (KO 5pm UK time, 6pm local time).

It’s the third year that the Blues have staged their annual training camp in Austria, each time at a different venue.

This summer Town have been based at a sports complex owned by lower division side SV Windischgarsten.

Saturday’s match will be Town’s second of pre-season, Peterborough United having visited Playford Road for a behind closed doors game last Saturday, Posh, who are further advanced in their preparations for 2025/26, winning 1-0.

Blau-Weiß Linz, who finished sixth in their division last season, are also further through their pre-season with Saturday’s match their fourth friendly.

They were beaten 1-0 at home, although not at their stadium, by Czech title holders Slavia Prague on July 5th, then drew 2-2 with Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) at Windischgarsten, where Town have been training, four days later.

Last Saturday, they defeated Town’s old friends Fortuna Düsseldorf at FC Hertha Wels’s HUBER Arena, which is just to the west of Linz, Austria’s third-biggest city.

The Blues are likely to field a different XI in each half, as is common at this stage of pre-season.

Skipper Sam Morsy, who is completing his move to Kuwait SC, and Omari Hutchinson, who was given an extended break having been with the victorious England U21s squad at the Euros, are among those not with the squad.

Wes Burns is continuing his rehab from his ACL, while Aro Muric also may not be involved as he returns from shoulder surgery.

Chieo Ogbene and Jaden Philogene have both been pictured training with their teammates and look set to play some part following, respectively, their achilles and MCL injuries.

New signings Cedric Kipre and Azor Matusiwa will play their first games in Town shirts, while David Button is one of a number of keepers with the squad and so may not be involved.

Youngsters Leon Ayinde and Finley Barbrook have both been spotted in the footage released by the club over the course of the week and are likely to get minutes. You can read a TWTD blog on who might feature for the Austrian side here.

As suggested by their name, Blau-Weiß Linz also wear blue and white, so there could be an early outing for Town’s red away strip.

The game is being shown live on TownTV with match passes available for £4.99 here. TWTD will be in Austria reporting on the game and giving the post-match reaction.

What to read next:

McKenna: New Coach Stanislas Comes Highly Recommended
Town manager Kieran McKenna has spoken about the additions of new first-team coach Junior Stanislas and set-piece analyst Michele Aragona.
McKenna: Young Will Bring Experience, Competitiveness and Edge
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says new signing Ashley Young can give the club different things in different areas, among them his experience, competitiveness and his edge.
Hirst: I Thought We Played Really Well, But Aberdeen Gave Us a Massive Challenge
Town striker George Hirst was pleased to add to his pre-season goals tally during the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McKenna: Philogene Very Good Tonight, His Off the Ball Work Was Outstanding
Town manager Kieran McKenna was delighted with Jaden Philogene’s performance in the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McKenna: We Got What We Wanted From the Game
Town boss Kieran McKenna said he got what he wanted from the 3-1 friendly win at Aberdeen and believes his side is in general on the right track.
McKenna: Nothing in the Air Regarding Omari's Situation
Town boss Kieran McKenna says there’s “nothing in the air” regarding Omari Hutchinson’s future with the forward having remained behind in Suffolk to train while the Blues were in Aberdeen for this evening’s 3-1 friendly victory.
Aberdeen 1-3 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Jaden Philogene scored twice and George Hirst once as Town beat Aberdeen 3-1 in their friendly at Pittodrie. Philogene stroked home from close range after good work from Sammie Szmodics and Hirst on 28, then Hirst added a second with a predatory rebound 10 minutes later, before Philogene netted the third just before the hour with Aberdeen pulling one back in the 79th minute remaining and the Blues having replaced their entire starting XI.
Aberdeen 0-2 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
Goals from Jaden Philogene and George Hirst have given the Blues a 2-0 half-time lead in this evening’s friendly against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Strong Blues Team Starts at Aberdeen
Town have named a strong line-up for this evening’s friendly against Aberdeen at Pittodrie (KO 7.30pm, live on TownTV).
Luongo Completes Millwall Move
Millwall have confirmed the signing of former Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo on a one-year deal.