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Three Youngsters on Tour - Ipswich Town News

Youngsters Shane Supple, Owen Garvan and Aidan Collins will all go on Town's pre-season tour of Hungary and will be involved in Wednesday's first pre-season friendly at Cambridge United. All three were in Town's FA Youth Cup-winning U18 side last season.

Boss Joe Royle says he expects Supple to compete with Lewis Price for the role of first-choice keeper: "He has grown and filled out over the summer, so now it's up to him to challenge Lewis."

Royle no longer has any plans to bring in a more senior keeper, however should one of his two stoppers suffer an injury or drop in form he will look to the loan market.

Central defender Collins made his senior bow at the end of the 2002/03 season at Derby but hasn't made another appearance since, injury having disrupted his last couple of seasons.

Royle says that he should make progress this season: "He looks as if he is ready to push on now and confirm the early promise he was showing a couple of years ago."

Garvan was the linchpin of the U18 side but missed the second leg of the final against Southampton after picking up a virus which forced him to spend a number of days in hospital.

Royle says the Irishman looks a very accomplished performer: "Owen is the youngest at 17 but he has been training with the first team and looks very comfortable with it.

"At this stage that's all we can say. It's up to him to take his chance when it comes. This could be a big season for him and the other lads."

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