Left-back Ben Thatcher is likely to start pre-season two weeks behind the rest of the Town squad due to the partial rupture of his medial knee ligaments he suffered during the 3-1 derby victory over Norwich City towards the end of the season.

The 33-year-old is currently cycling and swimming and is expected to progress his recovery process further next week, but won't be ready to join in with his team-mates when they start their pre-season preparations on July 2nd. However, if all goes well, he could be in contention to be involved when the season proper gets under way on August 8th at Coventry.

Thatcher is currently the only out and out left-back at the club and the Blues are understood to be have made enquiries regarding QPR's Damien Delaney and Leicester's Joe Mattock during the close season.

Meanwhile, Town may not be represented at the European U21 Championships in Sweden after all. A Swedish newspaper revealed earlier in the week that the Blues were amongst 80 clubs to have requested tickets to the hosts' game against Belarus, but a report today says Town may not actually have sent anyone to the competition.

Simon Hunt, who left his job as Town's international scout last week, previously played and managed in Sweden and was the club's expert on Scandinavian football, so may have organised the trip prior to his departure from the club.

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