Town manager George Burley, returning from his weekend scouting trip, has said he will not be making another bid for Mart Poom. Burley bid around £4 million for the Estonian, but this was turned down by Jim Smith.

The Town boss, who watched two games over the weekend, said: "We made a bid for Mart Poom which was rejected. It was not about the money, Jim Smith has said he is not for sale and so that is the end of it. Andy Marshall is not fit and that will leave us short at the beginning of the season."

Marshall himself said earlier today that he was on the mend and hoped to be in contention for Sunderland. He is, unsurprisingly, not pleased that Burley is looking for another keeper: "I can fully understand why the manager is looking to bring in another goalkeeper but I'm obviously disappointed. It means it there will be even more competition to be the regular first-team keeper."

Burley's decision not to press Derby any further over Poom lends support to the view that Sereni may now be Burley's favoured target.

Town are still awaiting paperwork from Real Mallorca and Nigeria before the Finidi George deal can be completed. Once these are with the club Finidi will sign a three-year deal at Portman Road.

Finidi has been training with Town, but he was not amongst a number of players involved in a behind closed doors friendly with Southend yesterday.

Titus Bramble will start tomorrow's England U21 international against Holland at the Madjeski Stadium from the bench. This may come as a relief to many Town fans worried about losing players to injury before the season has even started.

Manager George Burley said: "It is always good for Titus to be playing for England but I just want my players back safely and that includes Titus and Hermann."

Hermann Hreidarsson and Amir Karic are also in international action this week, against Poland and Rumania respectively.

England U21s: Taylor (Arsenal), Young (Charlton), Terry (Chelsea), Barry (Aston Villa), Bridge (Southampton), Greening (Middlesbrough), Dunn (Blackburn), Davis (Fulham), Chadwick (Man Utd), Vassell (Aston Villa), Jeffers (Arsenal).

Photo: Action Images

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