x

New Duo in Squad - Ipswich Town News

Town have named new boys Alex Bruce and Dan Harding in a 20-man squad for Saturday's season opener at home to Crystal Palace. Also included is midfielder Gavin Williams who has missed most of pre-season with tendinitis and then a groin problem.

Williams trained on Friday morning, but definitely missing is Owen Garvan who is still feeling the effects of the bout of shingles which kept him out of much of the pre-season programme.

New boss Jim Magilton is likely to hand starts both this week's signings, with Harding expected to be at left-back with Fabian Wilnis on the right and new skipper Jason De Vos in the centre alongside Richard Naylor. Shane Supple will continue in goal.

Alex Bruce could come into the centre of the midfield now that Ian Westlake has completed his switch to Leeds United and with Garvan out and Williams unlikely to be fit enough to start. Matt Richards will probably fill the other central midfield berth, with Jaime Peters on the left and Darren Currie on the right, although they have switched on occasion during pre-season.

Up front, last season's top scorer Nicky Forster is likely to be paired with Alan Lee, although the Irish international will probably make way for Dean Bowditch, Danny Haynes or Sam Parkin in the second half, having played little football in pre-season after undergoing an abdominal operation.

Palace will be without midfielder Michael Hughes who has a broken arm but have no other injury worries. New manager Peter Taylor will probably give debuts to summer signings Leon Cort, Mark Kennedy, Matt Lawrence, Carl Fletcher and former Blue James Scowcroft.

Saturday's referee is Kevin Wright from Cambridgeshire who showed 110 yellow and nine red cards in 36 matches last season. His last Town game was the 2-1 home win over Leicester City in February 2005.

Fans will all be provided with a free match programme from sponsors E.ON prior to the game.

Squad: Barron, Bowditch, Bruce, Casement, Clarke, Currie, De Vos, Forster, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Naylor, Parkin, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito, Supple, Williams, Wilnis.

What to read next:

Former Town Youth Coach Owen Dies
Former Town youth coach Brian Owen has died, aged 80.
Emmanuel-Thomas Joins AFC Totton
Ex-Town forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has joined National League South AFC Totton following his release from prison on parole.
Young Watches Son as U21s Beat Needham
Former England star and apparent Town target Ashley Young watched his son Tyler feature as a trialist for Town's U21s on Tuesday evening as they beat 10-man Needham Market 2-1 at Bloomfields in a pre-season friendly.
Young Watching Town U21s at Needham
Veteran former England international Ashley Young is watching Town’s U21s in friendly action at Needham Market with his son Tyler on trial with John McGreal’s squad.
Blues Beaten By Hammers in Behind Closed Doors Friendlies
Town played two 60-minute behind-closed-doors friendlies with West Ham United at their Rush Green training ground this afternoon.
Halajko New Director of Football Operations, Chenery Appointed Academy Manager
Dmitri Halajko, previously Town’s academy director, has been appointed the new director of football operations, TWTD having revealed Gary Probert’s departure for a job at Liverpool a fortnight ago, while Ben Chenery has been named academy manager.
Town Women Sign Striker Dean
Ipswich Town Women have signed striker Rianna Dean following her Southampton exit at the end of last season.
Chaplin: Opener at Birmingham One to Look Forward To
Ipswich Town’s season opener against Birmingham City is a clash that the whole squad are looking forward to, according to forward Conor Chaplin.
Fourteen Sign Contracts Ahead of WSL2 Campaign
Town have confirmed that 14 players have signed new contracts with the women’s side for the WSL2 season ahead.
U21s in Action at Needham
Town’s U21s are in friendly action against Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market at Bloomfields this evening (KO 7.45pm).