Town boss Mick McCarthy says he and the squad have had a great week training at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare. The Blues begin their pre-season programme tomorrow with their now annual friendly against Shelbourne at Tolka Park (KO 3pm).

“It’s been a great week, the lads have come back and really been right at in the sessions we’ve put on,” McCarthy told the club site.

“They’ve impressed us all in how fit they’ve come back and you can see from the tempo of training that they are doing well.

“The facilities out here are second to none and that really helps. We’ve got the best pitches available to us, the gymnasium is superb and the staff here really look after us.

“The lads are really putting the work in as we build up to the season and they will be able to get out onto the grass tomorrow against Shelbourne.

“As well as working hard, they also need their downtime and to bond as a group. We gave them Wednesday off and a few of them had a round of golf here at Carton House, some of the lads went to the cinema. It’s all part of it and spirits are high.”

The Town boss, who has taken the Blues to Carton House during the previous two pre-seasons and has also been there with Wolves and Sunderland, is expected to field a different XI in each half of Saturday’s game, as he has done in previous years. Shelbourne are once again likely to play largely an U19 team.

Ireland strikers Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick and Scotland defender Christophe Berra are not with the party as they were given an extra two weeks off having been away on international duty until mid-June, but midfielder Kevin Bru did make the trip having been with Mauritius.

Youngsters Adam McDonnell and Dylan Connolly will be facing their old club, while academy full-backs Myles Kenlock and Josh Emmanuel are also with the squad having impressed McCarthy during the first week of pre-season training at Playford Road.

Winger Cameron Stewart is a notable absentee having remained in Suffolk.

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 16:15 - Jul 10 Wont be much of a test tomorrow as Shelbourne Manager has said he will only be putting out a team of mainly youngsters as first team have a fixture the following day.
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ArnieM added 16:18 - Jul 10 Its for fitness and beginings of match fitness, as Im sure you know . ;}
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bluefeast added 16:42 - Jul 10 Build up fitness , perhaps encourage via the words relax relax relax when chambers has the ball hahahaha
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bluefeast added 16:43 - Jul 10 Berra didn't kick a ball and neither did McG really ,they should be in spitting blood for the cause ,is Berra banned for 3 games by the way ?
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bohslegend added 17:11 - Jul 10 Really looking forward to seeing the lads here tomorrow. It's just great to be so close to the season with plenty of reason for optimism.
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n5normy added 20:29 - Jul 10 @bluefeast Berra should only be banned for 1 game
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BlueBhoy added 01:35 - Jul 11 I think it's a great idea to go to Ireland every year. They have great facilities, are treated well and can bond as a team. Some great teams were built on team spirit , the crazy gang , Ireland 1988 , and Ireland italia 90. The team can train hard and bond hard in Ireland without the snout of the begrudging English press looking for a story or an angle. I would say that the closeness in the squad that big mick has nurtured in our club has been a big part of our recent revival in fortunes. And a lot of that would have come from the experiences he had as player under Jack Charlton. You can have the best players in the world on a team. But if they don't play for the shirt and each other it's not worth a sh##e. I think he understand a the importance of a close squad and that's why he keeps returning to Ireland where they have the facilities but also the freedom to have the craic as a group.

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Len_Brennan added 08:25 - Jul 11 Betting suspended on Martin O'Neil going back to Leicester, with Mick been spoken of as the most likely replacement in the Ireland job if O'Neil goes. Worrying days ahead. The chance of another cracking at the Premiership, at a club he adores & where he is adored is surely too good to turn down for O'Neil. The fact that Mick never previously denied having a release clause in his contract, should the Ireland job be offered, is a concern. Hopefully the progress we have made in the interim will be a big factor in his thinking. Also, I think he has signed a new contract since all that previous speculation, which hopefully doesn't have any get out clause. On a separate note, I see Crystal Palace has confirmed the signing of Cabaye; that has to have a big impact on Jonny Williams' potential for game time there. Maybe now is the time for a cheeky bid of £2m to test the waters (pending a medical)? Another available midfielder of note is Swansea's Leon Britain. I thought he was exceptional 2 or 3 years ago, but after injury hasn't gotten back into a decent side who have spent a lot of money. Could be a really shrewd signing. My final midfield suggestion is Giles Barnes, who seems to have gotten over all his injury problems & has been in excellent form for Houston Dynamos for the last 12 months. About 5 years ago he was linked with many of the top Premiership clubs & is still in his mid-20s. We need a creative midfielder with that level of quality if we are to win promotion this coming season. McGoldrick is an option & could certainly do a job (if fit & motivated in that role), but ultimately it would just be another example of playing Chambers at right back, when what is required is an actual right back.

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