Town boss Mick McCarthy believes his squad is more advanced than it was at this point in pre-season a year ago with the youngsters now on the fringes of the first-team squad capable of providing back-up to his senior players. The Blues continue their preparations for 2015/16 this evening when they face League Two Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium (KO 7.45pm).

Speaking after Friday’s 4-3 friendly defeat at Fortuna Düsseldorf, McCarthy said that there’s greater strength in the depth than there was at this time last year: “We’ve got Josh Yorwerth, Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock playing in the back four with Kyle Hammond, who are all very inexperienced. Matt Clarke as well, while we’ve got Christophe Berra missing and Jonny Parr missing.

“They’re just going to be back-up those lads but I think they might be adequate back-up for a game or two.

“[In midfield] Adam McDonnell, Dylan Connolly, Alex Henshall, I had Cameron Stewart playing tonight, Ryan Fraser, Kundai Benyu, all very inexperienced lads, but playing with experienced players.

“I think that if I turned up here in three weeks’ time with Christophe Berra, Jonny Parr, Murph and Didz and everybody playing, then it would be a different ball game. I like the way the lads are progressing, I think we’ll have some back-up with them.”

He added: “We had a great season last season but I think we’re looking better this time than we were last, so we’ve got to do it all over again.

“I think the younger lads found it hard [at Fortuna]. The older lads, Chambo, Tommy, Tabby, Brett Pitman, all those lads [were OK].

“The younger ones, having only had one game, that was tough for them. It’s a really good mix, I think it’s a good blend between the two.”

McCarthy said on Friday that he expects Berra and David McGoldrick to be involved in this evening’s game after being given two additional weeks off having been involved in international football until mid-June, along with Daryl Murphy.

The trio returned to training last Monday and didn't travel to Ireland for the training camp at Carton House or to Germany.

The Town boss says last season’s 27-goal top scorer will be given a little longer: “He’s had injuries in pre-season before and we’ll make sure he’s ready to come back, we don’t want to get him injured.”

Cambridge's Lowestoft-born manager Richard Money expects a tougher game than the two back-to-back 60-minute friendlies his club played against Norwich last Friday, the matches ending 1-1 and 2-0 to the Canaries.

"I think it will be a bigger test than Norwich because I'd expect Ipswich are more ready to play than Norwich," he told the Cambridge News.

"The other night had a training game feel to it because of the format, but I think this will be much more of a match.

"I want the same organisation and the same determination as against Norwich, but if we can, we want to have more periods with the ball.

"We'd like some periods where we've got controlled possession and that's not easy against teams who are two or three divisions above you."

CAMBRIDGE: 650 #ITFC fans have bought advance tickets for tonight's match. Tickets are available online at http://t.co/9IN8v4PZRe until 6:30– ITFC_PlanetBlue (@ITFC_PlanetBlue) July 21, 2015

CAMBRIDGE: Tickets are available this evening on the gate with no price increase - £12 adults, £8 concessions, £4 17 & Under, U5 FOC #ITFC– ITFC_PlanetBlue (@ITFC_PlanetBlue) July 21, 2015

CAMBRIDGE: Tickets are available CASH ONLY on turnstiles or if paying on card from the CUFC ticket office at the stadium #ITFC– ITFC_PlanetBlue (@ITFC_PlanetBlue) July 21, 2015

Photo: Action Images

DanLyles added 06:58 - Jul 21 I am not expecting this by any means, but as I am going to the game tonight it would be nice to see the nucleus of a team that may start at Brentford play for at least 70 minutes . Bart in goal, Smith and Chambers at the back (with Berra suspended for the first game), Parr if fit at full back. Maybe Skuse alongside Bishop or Bru. Maitland-Niles and Fraser on the wings then with Didz unlikely to be fit and Murphy not making the trip, maybe Pitman and Sears up front. Berra and Didz could be eased back in the second half. On another note, I'm not totally convinced by the youth options as defensive back up. Watched the Fortuna game online and we looked extremely vulnerable. Maybe we would get a better idea of their abilities if they were introduced one at a time alongside three senior experienced defenders? Nonetheless, some experienced defenders still required imo.

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Mark added 07:16 - Jul 21 If Berra and Parr miss the opening match and with Mings gone, would we play two of Yorwerth, Emmanuel and Kenlock at Brentford? While I am happy to give youth a chance, I feel we do need at least one more experienced defender.
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MattinLondon added 07:24 - Jul 21 MM isn't a fool, if he thinks that the younger players are ready for first team duty then that's where they will be. Having younger and our own players, either in the team or on the bench is a damn sight better then having some 30 year old journeyman on the bench. I think that the team is almost there and I am really looking forward to the new season. I do hope that we try to keep the ball on the grass this season rather than mindless hoofs - what with Fraser, McDonnell, Connolly and Bishop etc etc it will not make sense to simply bypass them with a successive long balls.

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battyblue added 07:24 - Jul 21 You must be joking Mick defense still lightweight and now Clarke is out on loan, we need a quality right back Now splash the cash it will be to late after a few games and our leaky defense has cost us valuable points. IE closing the gate after the horse has bolted,,I believe the quote was the Mings money will be reinvested in the playing squad... WHEN?
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Currie10 added 07:38 - Jul 21 Exactly why people like you are not managers battyblue. I suppose we should blow the money straight away like Jewell / Keane / Magilton did........ people need some perspective. We COULD blow the lot now and pay players wages for the sake of it when we don't have a game for a while, sure.
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Len_Brennan added 08:11 - Jul 21 Mick is a wiley old fox, he knows what he's doing & is a master at dampening transfer speculation in an effort to keep his intentions to himself. This has 2 major benefits : 1. It reduces the prospects of rivals swooping in to gazump & sign his targets before 2. It suggests that he's not in serious need or desperate to get in a player in a particular position, thus inflating the potential sale price. Mick has consistently brought players in without fuss or rumour and I'm pretty sure he will do the same again, with at least one full back & a midfielder ahead of the Brentford game. There will also be one or two others coming after the season kicks off & when Premiership sides have confirmed who is, & who isn't, in their declared squads. - Those players might be season long loans of course.

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parhamblue added 08:13 - Jul 21 Mick clarifies very well that this season we are likely to see maybe one or two more of these inexperienced players on the pitch at any one time. Which is a good sign that the squad is maturing, while featuring a lot of young talent. As things stand, however, and given what MM has said, we are short of one experienced defender, ideally a full back, and if we are to mount a serious, sustained promotion challenge, this position has got to be filled.

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gibbo added 08:29 - Jul 21 It's all very well to have youngsters as back up but how many games did bishop have last season before he could play a full game without his legs go or attention to follow markers drop !
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Bluebell added 08:31 - Jul 21 I didn't realise Jonny Parr hasn't been playing. Is he injured?
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Mr_Evans added 08:31 - Jul 21 With Clarke going out on loan in sure a CB signing will be confirmed within a few days. Ideally I'd like us to sign an experienced RB and a CM who will get in the ball and open things up (a season long fit Jonny Williams please!!!!!). The way MM gets players in through the door with no fuss is astounding - I'm glad we have a manager who knows what he wants and how to achieve it. With the likes of Bournemouth, Watford and those north of our county border going up last year; I think MM has come to the concluding that you really need to get the ball down and play with it. I hope in games where we take the lead we will be able to really control and dictate the flow of play. Save the long ball for when we're behind.

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mutters added 08:34 - Jul 21 MM is playing the role of a top manager very well. I suspect, as most do, that none of these players will really play early on in the season, but if they progress well then they might get the odd sub role. He has given these young guys something to aim for, something to push towards. By the start of start of the season (or when the transfer / loan window shuts) we will have more experienced options in the squad.

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WeWereZombies added 08:48 - Jul 21 I can remember back to 1978 when Bobby Robson brought the untested Russel Osman into a world class side, within six weeks Osman looked as assured as any seasoned professional, and then Sir Bobby did again with Terry Butcher - except that time it took three weeks. If a player is young and talented then they need to be brought on at the right pace, keeping them waiting by bringing in an older loan or transfer player will ultimately harm both club and player as the youth player will have their development and aspiration hampered (and may start to look elsewhere too). Obviously this is not an exact science and managerial acumen is vital and we only have to look at the successes of Bobby Robson and Alex Ferguson to see how they stood out from most of their contemporaries. McCarthy may be approaching this level of excellence now, at any rate he is more likely to know the chances of bringing on the next Teddy Bishop than any of us. I think the inclusion of Cameron Stewart at Dusseldorf is an indicator of where a young player towards the end of the first stage of his development as a potential first team player can show us how the manager is dealing with a tricky but promising challenge. It might not be the sign that Stewart is a moody soul that some suspect but that McCarthy knows how easy it is for zippy wingers to get clattered out of a career (remember Ulrich Le Pen) and is using kid gloves to give us teh next Ryan Giggs.

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karls_dad added 08:57 - Jul 21 I can see Johnny Williams here very soon, the lad loves the club, is not in the mix where he is, MM is a shrewd old fella, say,s nothing until its done! him along with another defender and we are sorted, in a far better position pre season than last year and we are going to need to be! as usual its literally anybodies race again!
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ArnieM added 09:20 - Jul 21 Klug said over a year ago that The plan was to have up to 50% of the first team made up of our Academy players by 2017. We look on track!
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ArnieM added 09:25 - Jul 21 Hasn't Williams just gone to Forest?
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rickw added 09:36 - Jul 21 Well I guess if Parr and Berra are out at the start of season the youngsters will get an early chance to impress, lets hope they do!!
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ArnieM added 09:52 - Jul 21 We were zombies: I agree with all that you have said above. However Stewart has been told he can leave. So I guess his attitude may well be in question as others are now ahead of him.
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Steve70 added 09:54 - Jul 21 Thats fine, but when youngters come into the team and play well , then for me they should keep thier place. its keeps the senior players on thier toes too.
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muccletonjoe added 10:07 - Jul 21 If we go into new season without any new signings in defence, I would suggest we all keep our fingers crossed for the next 9 months that no one gets injured
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ArnieMsBigToe added 10:19 - Jul 21 Johnny Williams was superb . . . . . when he was fit. That's the bit of him I don't like. I think (and hope) that MM & TC have got one or two more robust midfield options up there sleeve. I believe that some of the Mings money will be spent, but MM and TC are a canny pair of foxes, and will wait for the optimum time when the best price can be arranged. Until then, we will all have to wait and be patient. They may, merely get a loan arranged and wait for Hyam to return to fitness. Personally, I hope they don't. Hyam is good at breaking up attacks, but then often gives the ball away.

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Ipswichbusiness added 10:46 - Jul 21 I would love to see the youngsters in the side and playing well. The Ipswich way has been to bring on youth which, if done well, is much more cost-effective than spending millions on Karlos Kickaball. However, as wewerezombies points out, it is better if they're introduced one at a time into an experienced side. I still think that we need one more experienced defender. That said MM is the manager not me and for good reason.

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scunnyblue added 10:47 - Jul 21 If Clarke going out on loan so it seems. i would suspect MM has something in the pipeline. Chambo said in his press conference that they were still seeking a couple of additions. Not as thou MM will tell us anything until the deal is done. It's what a both like and dislike and MM.
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HARRY10 added 11:54 - Jul 21 Sounds like we will be doing it on the cheap again. Which means we will retain our position as the division's longest server. Our 14th season now, and we can't count on it being an easy season again this yea either. Our fate appears sealed.
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Beattiesballbag added 13:07 - Jul 21 As some have speculated on here, why would he want to sign another central defender ? he has four, Berra, Smith, Chambers & Josh Yorwerth, there's no point signing another bum to warm the bench, if he does sign anymore it would be to make the first eleven stronger which would suggest a full back or two, but then he may make do with Chambers & Parr ? the subs bench can only seat so many & there are enough youngsters coming through who can manage 45 minutes to fill that, just as he's suggesting ! Assuming Skuse is going nowhere then he has more than enough young legs to play in front of him now with Bish, Niles, Fraser, Bru, McDonnell, Connolly, Henshall not forgetting Tab, so unless he's on a free why would he want to risk any money on Williams (as people on here keep suggesting) who is an injury risk! One question, as I didn't see the Fortuna Düsseldorf game, it was wonderful to hear we played the ball out of defence but I wondered was this because they allowed us to or did they close us down like a champion ship side will do ?

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TennesseeBlue added 13:35 - Jul 21 So, in other words, we aren't signing anybody else this summer
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