Town will be without Gary Roberts, Fabian Wilnis, Sylvain Legwinski and Richard Naylor for tonight's first pre-season friendly at Burton Albion (KO 7.45pm). Boss Jim Magilton is expected to use the rest of the 24-man party which travelled to Loughborough on Monday.

Legwinski and Naylor are continuing their recoveries after foot and toe injuries respectively, while Roberts and Wilnis have picked up minor niggles earlier in pre-season training. Gavin Williams and Dean Bowditch have not made the trip due to pelvic and groin injuries.

Town followed up an hour's training earlier today with a session in the English Cricket Board's nets, manager Magilton apparently on the wrong end of some short-pitched bowling.

First team coach Bryan Klug told the club site that the four-day spell at the university is a better preparation for the season ahead than the traditional tour: "There are world class facilities here at Loughborough and the players appreciate that.

"There are a few champions who have worked on their skills in these surroundings and it's easy to see the attraction of coming here.

"We feel four days here can work better than going on tour for us in that we have more time to work with the players. We have already had three training sessions and had the opportunity to break it up with a few fun bits as well, like the cricket nets.

"It's obviously a chance for the players to spend some bonding time together as well, and that's important at this stage of the season."

Prices at the Pirelli Stadium are £8 for adults and £5 for under-16s in the Main Stand and £6 for adults and £3 for under-16s on the terracing.

Squad: Alex Bruce, Alan Lee, Jason De Vos, Owen Garvan, Danny Haynes, Billy Clarke, David Wright, George O'Callaghan, Jon Walters, Fabian Wilnis, Dan Harding, Sylvain Legwinski, Gary Roberts, Matt Richards, Richard Naylor, Shane Supple, Lewis Price, Sammy Moore, Ian Miller, Sito, Chris Casement, Liam Trotter, Michael Synnott, Jordan Rhodes.

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