Striker David McGoldrick is set to return to action when the Blues face Cambridge United in their fourth pre-season friendly of the summer at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday afternoon (KO 3pm).

McGoldrick suffered a hip flexor problem while the squad was training in Ireland earlier in the month and has yet to feature in a pre-season game.

Speaking on Wednesday, manager Mick McCarthy said that the 28-year-old wouldn’t be rushed back but that he had returned to training.

With McGoldrick set to return and Myles Kenlock and new signing Adam Webster (both ankle) having made their first appearances of pre-season at Colchester, only Giles Coke, who underwent knee surgery at the end of 2015/16, is still to be involved in the friendlies.

Regarding his team for tomorrow, McCarthy plans to start those players who came on the second half of Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Colchester and will given them around an hour as he did with those who started at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

That’s likely to see most of Bartosz Bialkowski, Jonas Knudsen, Josh Emmanuel, Webster, Christophe Berra, Cole Skuse, Luke Hyam, Teddy Bishop, Adam McDonnell, Daryl Murphy and perhaps McGoldrick starting.

Webster, Murphy and McGoldrick - if he is included from the start - may well be given only a half as they are behind the rest of the squad.

Cambridge boss and one-time Town target Shaun Derry is looking forward to his side, who finished ninth in League Two last season, facing the Blues.

"It's going to be a fantastic occasion on Saturday, and a game that gets us closer to the season with the tempo picking up and it starts to matter a little bit more,” he said. “We're hoping it will be more of a league affair.

"To come up against an opponent like Ipswich is going to be a real testing afternoon for us. We were up against some difficult opponents at times over in Germany [where they played two friendlies], but we know it's going to be a different type of affair.”

Last summer, goals from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Brett Pitman and McGoldrick saw the Blues to a 3-2 friendly victory against the U’s.

Meanwhile, McCarthy has congratulated his friend Sam Allardyce on his appointment as England boss, which was confirmed earlier this afternoon.

“I’m absolutely delighted for Sam, first and foremost but I’m also delighted for the LMA [League Managers Association] and all the English managers out there,” McCarthy told Ipswich Player HD.

“As managers, we all have to cut our teeth in the game and Sam has done that. He’s been down in the lower leagues and worked his way up and his knowledge of football is superb.

“He’s a very bright guy and he will get the team working hard and giving their all. If you add a better standard of player into that mix, then that could well be a recipe for success. I’m delighted for Sam and good luck to him.”

Squad from: Bialkowski, Gerken, Chambers, Emmanuel, Knudsen, Berra, T Smith, Webster, Digby, Malarczyk, Skuse, Douglas, Bishop, Bru, Hyam, Dozzell, McDonnell, Blanchfield, Stewart, Murphy, Sears, Pitman, McGoldrick, McLoughlin.

Photo: Action Images

Wallingford_Boy added 17:18 - Jul 22 If that IS the starting XI tomorrow, I reckon thats not far off the starting XI v Barnsley. Be so good to see Emmanuel start over Chambo, but it won't happen. Swap Dozzell for Hyam and thats my team.
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parkinshair added 18:10 - Jul 22 McGoldrick has spent the last two years not being rushed back.
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unknown100 added 18:12 - Jul 22 Good back 5, would like to see skuse and bishop, then 2 players in for hyam and McDonnell even though I haven't actually seen him! So if he's good enough, then play him, seems to be confident in the young players though! Which is a good sign
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12th_Man added 18:22 - Jul 22 Great to see him back but don't rush him
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jas0999 added 18:22 - Jul 22 We desperately need to sign a couple of attacking wingers, but defensively we do look very good. Still concerned over McGoldricks fitness and with Varney leaving, options look sparse if Sears is utilised in midfield and David is injured.
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GenericIpswichFan added 18:26 - Jul 22 More hoofball I expect, god I long for the days of Paul Jewell and Roy Keane when we'd lose but at least we looked pretty doing it. I don't care if we get relegated this season provided we do it playing tika taka.
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LimitlessBlue added 18:43 - Jul 22 I can hear his hamstring tightening already!
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planetblue_2011 added 18:52 - Jul 22 If McGoldrick doesn't make the start of season, it's simple sign another striker!! Need a decent left winger as well..
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planetblue_2011 added 18:54 - Jul 22 Hope he will be ok for sat though!
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TimmyH added 19:47 - Jul 22 Really finding it difficult keeping up with the transfer news at the moment there's so many deals being made - NOT!!! whats happening with the Elliot Bennett story? not that it wets my appetite...
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Tractorboy1985 added 19:55 - Jul 22 @genereicipswichfan.. When did we play good football under Jewell?? Keane yes he had his moments but that was the most deluded comment I have read on here for some time!!!
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DJ27 added 19:56 - Jul 22 Interesting that a lot like this predicted side to start against Barnsley. I liked the side that started against Col U, with Bart, Webster and Bishop in for Gerken, Digby and Douglas. Maybe we don't need to many new signings after all. Time to get positive and bin the constant negativity.
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GenericIpswichFan added 20:17 - Jul 22 Tracrorboy All I know is we never won 1 - 0 under Jewell or Keane. Tells me all I need to know. Now to lose 5 - 3, thrilling stuff, never a dull moment and although we might have conceded 5 poor goals we almost always scored 3 QUALITY ones. Also at least 3 of those we did conceded were because we were attacking and showing some ambition.
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John added 22:01 - Jul 22 Spoke to McDonnell at coggeshall tonight, he's got a slight injury and won't be playing tomorrow, should be ok for charlton.
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:12 - Jul 22 So generic are u saying u would rather lose 5-3 than win 1-0??? Mind boggling!! Jewell and Keane were given millions of pounds to supply 'entertainment' as u say! Where did it get us?? Mick working on a shoe string is and has performed miracles! Your anger should be with the tight a*#e Evans rather than mick!
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GenericIpswichFan added 22:27 - Jul 22 Well then we agree about something as you say the "tight arse" gave them millions of pounds, a snifter of ambition remained then I suppose. Now the Cobbolds were owners.
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EatonBlue added 22:41 - Jul 22 Return of the Mack
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sidtheswan added 07:56 - Jul 23 Tractorboy 1985 Watford away won 1-0 and Chopra scored . I remember generally team trying to play better football but obviously quality wasn't there !
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vulcher1 added 10:04 - Jul 23 good to see mcgoldrick back, on his day, best striker we have! think this could be his last chance to prove he can stay fit tho, wouldn't surprise me if he gets offloaded if he gets another long term injury this season
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Jimmy86 added 10:07 - Jul 23 Good to have Didz back as he undoubtedly has class, but whether he can stay fit enough to really show this remains to be seen. Wouldn't mind betting he doesn't feature in any more than 15 games this season
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Pilgrimblue added 11:33 - Jul 23 I think he'll be same as last season with injuries taking their toll. If no more money is available then MM should play our two young full backs and let the rest of the defence compete for the CBs. My choice would be Diggers and Berraand if that means Chambers and Smith are sold then so be it.Perhaps Douglas could be off-loaded too as we've plenty of midfield options

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