Manager Mick McCarthy said the Town squad are in great shape as pre-season training got under way at Playford Road this morning. The players were in on Friday to have their fitness tested after the summer away from the club and the Blues boss said they came through with flying colours.

McCarthy has expressed his dislike of pre-season training in the past but says that’s mainly down to the way results in friendlies are viewed: “I’m only not the biggest fan of pre-season because the games don’t particularly mean anything.

“If you go out and have good victories when you play nobody really counts them because they’re pre-season games, they’re friendlies. But if you lose it’s like the end of the world and we’re all doomed for the rest of the season. It’s that mentality that I really don’t like.

“The players came back on Friday and they were tested for their fitness and body fat content, and I have to say they’re in great shape.

“Pre-season’s changed a little bit, you’re not getting them fit to train, they come back almost ready to play. But it’s just the games that don’t mean anything and never do anything for me in pre-season.”

After spending this week training at Playford Road, ballwork as well as the traditional fitness routines, the squad is off to Carton House, the scene of the Irish Open golf from Thursday, in Maynooth, County Kildare for a week's training in different surroundings. The first pre-season friendly follows on Saturday 6th July in Dublin against Shelbourne.

Then there are domestic friendlies against sides from the lower leagues, although not as close to home as McCarthy would have wanted: “We’ve just got games within the locality - about 100 miles away is the nearest one. Geographically it is just difficult to get games. We had Norwich the week before but that’s been cancelled.

“Just get games, get them playing, get them running around doing what they should do. In pre-season very often you find the opposition below you are actually harder to play against because they’ve got something to prove and you get good games.”

Amongst those at Playford Road this morning were new signings Cole Skuse, Jay Tabb, Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick, while academy youngsters Byron Lawrence — who we understand signed a professional contract after turning 17 in March — and keeper Michael Crowe joined in with the senior squad.

Missing from this morning’s session were the transfer-listed Jay Emmanuel-Thomas — although Michael Chopra was present — and skipper Carlos Edwards, who is with the Trinidad and Tobago squad ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.

McCarthy doesn’t consider this a negative: “Carlos comes back just before the season starts, the middle of July. That’s not a problem, he’s playing games, he’ll be as fit as a flea when he comes back.”

The Blues boss says Titus Bramble is not with the squad and hasn’t considered making a move for the 31-year-old centre-half, who was released by Sunderland at the end of the season: “It’s never even crossed my mind because I think Titus Bramble will have other options and probably Premier League options.

“But I can’t say no because that would be a complete lie. What if he came here and said ‘Listen, I love living down here and this is where I come from, what’s your budget, what can you offer me?’, and I said ‘£500 a week’ and he said ‘I love it here and I’ll come and play’.

“I might consider it then under those circumstances. So, if I said no, I’d be lying, but have I spoken to him, his agent or considered it, I haven’t.”

McCarthy’s comments don’t entirely rule out Bramble spending time at Playford Road this summer with another ex-Blue Kieron Dyer having previously trained with the academy — of which both players are sponsors — rather than the senior squad after his release by QPR in January.

The Blues boss says he currently has no trialists lined up to join in with the squad during pre-season.

More photos from this morning's session to follow.

Photo: Action Images

Pendejo added 12:57 - Jun 24 Don't worry Mick no pressure... promotion this year, Champions League winners by 2017 please...... but lose to Barnet and its Mick out!!!!! [only kidding] COYB!
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IpswichLewis added 13:03 - Jun 24 Great to see the lads back, come on you blue boys, lets have um this season!!!
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blue_bery2 added 13:09 - Jun 24 Wheres JET then?
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mo_itfc added 13:09 - Jun 24 Instead of a friendly, couldn't MM & TC split the squad into 2 teams? MM picks one player then TC picks one... Then those 2 teams play a 90min game against each other! Would be a good exhibition game, I'd be interested in that!
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kevski25 added 13:16 - Jun 24 Sign them both up! , we need some creativity in the middle if the park, and put chambo right back to accommodate bramble, then we don't have to spend out in stearman!
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WorcesterBlue added 13:26 - Jun 24 Titus has nothing to prove elsewhere imo but taking Town back to the prem would maybe entice him. Gets slated for the odd lapses but it is more because of how good he could have been and the fact he is adventurous than anything else. He can pass, head, tackle and most importantly bring the ball out of defence instead of hoofing it.. and has a decent fitness record. He supports the club as a fan and financially and to my knowledge none of his off field antics has been proven so imo this would be one of our most significant signings this season. Get Ambrose back too for that matter.

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sucrePB1 added 13:29 - Jun 24 titus looks like biggie smalls
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blueblood66 added 13:31 - Jun 24 JET is away then it would appear...forget Bramble, won't happen
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theobald1985 added 13:32 - Jun 24 mo_itfc i like that idea especially if mick and terry had a wager on it they made public. I also like the ides of mini tournaments where all clubs put in some cash to enter and winner takes all. Or a friendly mini summer league televised and whoever televises it puts up some many for the winner to spend in the transfer market. there must be something we can do to prevent these drab pre season affairs. Hopefully mick will have em fit as a butchers dog for Reading

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Flip added 14:14 - Jun 24 said this before...Arsenal host the Emirates cup, Ajax the Amsterdam tournament n so on, why dont we host "The Sir Bobby Robson Cup" n invite Barca, PSV n Newcastle for example (his former clubs) with all proceeds going to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation? would be a great cause, great competition and cant see those clubs refusing too much? n could see portman rd being a sell out too

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TotalBlue added 14:28 - Jun 24 Flip, I think that's the best idea I have seen on here for ages would be a great boost for Sir Bobbys charity I guess the only issue is getting the other clubs to agree.
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bohslegend added 15:03 - Jun 24 Flip, flippin' great idea.
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hollywoodginge added 15:10 - Jun 24 ^^^great idea!!
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algarvefan added 15:19 - Jun 24 flip, flippin', flipping great idea, but as with so many great ideas some tw@t puts a spanner in the works and it doesn't happen! But a seriously great idea!!
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chippyblue added 15:40 - Jun 24 Now why didn't I think of that !!!! Great idea !!
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marco007 added 15:57 - Jun 24 Any idea on the latest with Paul Taylor? Was hoping to have him back in contention?
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TractorCam added 15:58 - Jun 24 Does anybody think number 40 in the second picture looks like Borussia Dortmund player Marco Reus?
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Edmunds5 added 16:50 - Jun 24 TractorCam- That's Tom Winter I think, starting his pro contract this season, great to see him amongst the first team squad now.
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bigolconnor added 16:58 - Jun 24 Marco007. Paul Taylor is behind Tom Winter in the above picture. Training with everyone else. Other matters have probably come to a well reasoned conclusion and he will most likely be available for the start of the season.
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TractorCam added 17:09 - Jun 24 Ah right, thanks Edmunds5
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Whitecaps_Fan added 19:35 - Jun 24 Titus would do a good job at the Championship level.
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TimmyH added 19:42 - Jun 24 I'll take your word for it Mick but we've heard this before from PJ in pre-season. I bet Chops doesn't like all that running around without kicking anything (oh forgot that's what he usually does).
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 20:10 - Jun 24 Great Idea Flip, why has no one thought of that before?
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Ely_Blue added 21:59 - Jun 24 Chops looking lardy as usual after the summer, maybe he'll eat some humble pie and try his hardest for the team if he gets a chance rather than trying his best for Michael Chopra
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Steelmonkey added 22:10 - Jun 24 TractorCam - can see the likeness, but as bigolconnor says it's Tom Winter. Great to see the lads back in training, the new season is full of hope, but as usual there are no easy games in the Championship. If we start the season as we finished the last we must be in with the chance of a top six finish, consistancy will be the key to unlock automatic promotion, something our two previous managers failed to produce. As for The Sir Bobby Robson Cup, wow what a wonderful idea. Get it sorted Marcus - just think of the advertising opportunities to promote the ME brand, not to mention the obvious money that the Foundation would rake in for such a worthy cause. Super idea FLIP.

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