Town boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed new striker Joe Garner is over the shoulder injury he suffered at Charlton last weekend and will be available to make his debut in Saturday’s opening home game of the season against Birmingham at Portman Road. McCarthy also revealed that David McGoldrick and Bersant Celina, who both missed the Charlton defeat due to illness, could both also be in the squad.

“He missed the first couple of days, Monday and Tuesday, but he trained on Thursday and Friday and he’s fine,” McCarthy said of Garner at his pre-match press conference, which was shown live on TWTV. “He was on good form today.

“Didzy trained yesterday and trained very well but he was left out of the shooting because it was his calf that was very sore. He’s trained really well today as well.

“He’s missed a lot of practice and a lot of sessions, but he was good. And Bersant is similar. He trained Thursday and Friday so both are fit and available for the squad.”

The Blues’ pre-season preparations have been hampered by the virus suffered by McGoldrick and Celina as well as a number of other players, and their manager.

“Everybody’s had it,” McCarthy reflected. “Me, being a Yorkshireman, I take it if it’s for free, so I’ve had it. Believe me, I don’t give much away so I didn’t pass it on to anybody.

“Bersant was the first to get it and he and Tom Adeyemi were rooming together in Ireland and he got knocked off his feet, which takes some doing with Tom.

“But he’s been training today, which is good. Tom Adeyemi, Emyr Huws and Luke Hyam, God love him, have been out today training with Lids [fitness coach Andy Liddell], so that’s a good sign.

“But it has been a disjointed pre-season through illness and injury - Chambo having his tonsils out, Adam Webster coming back from [an ankle] injury. There have been a lot missing but they’re all coming back thankfully.”

Any likely to be back for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup match at Luton? “Teddy Bishop’s not training, he’s having treatment [for a groin injury]. Tom Adeyemi is the most athletic of them all, Luke Hyam would argue with that but he has been out a long time, I’m just talking about how they are at the moment.

“Emyr Huws with his achilles, I’ve just watched him, he’s been doing shuttles and training hard, so he looks like he’s going to be OK. But he needs that groundwork put into him that he’s missed. So I don’t see Tuesday, I think that’s a bit too soon for them.”

Photo: TWTD

unknown100 added 14:13 - Aug 4 That it?
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fergalsharkey added 14:14 - Aug 4 How enlightening.
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fergalsharkey added 14:14 - Aug 4 How enlightening.
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Pencilpete added 14:14 - Aug 4 Thats the u9's being played in the cup then :(
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Sam added 14:18 - Aug 4 YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just what we need.
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Penguinblue added 14:25 - Aug 4 Press conference. Is anyone with any balls banned from attending? General impression is of an old boys club. McCarthy not challenged, gives the impression of complacency and coasting. Not under any prsessure? He damn well should be after being the architect of the awlful negative hoofball. When he says Chambo (pathetic use of nicknames by a 'manager') played 46 games and he needs someone of that quality needs to step up, why does no one point out that Chambers (proper bloke he might be) is a liability? Nothing has changed McCarthy OUT

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Wellyesyes added 14:27 - Aug 4 Can't see Didsy or Bersant being in the starting lineup tomorrow but good news on Garner. COYB!
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prebbs007 added 14:52 - Aug 4 24th July Mick McCarthy confident that Ipswich Town will sign another striker before the big kick-off PUBLISHED: 13:57 25 July 2017 Stuart Watson New The Blues boss has just three senior strikers to call upon at present in the form of summer signing Joe Garner, Freddie Sears and David McGoldrick, with Brett Pitman (Portsmouth, free), Kieffer Moore (Rotherham, loan) and Leon Best (released) having all moved on. Town have been pipped to the seven-figure signings of Danny Ward and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson by Championship rivals Cardiff and Reading respectively in recent weeks, with owner Marcus Evans keen to fund a deal. “We'll have another one (striker) by the start of the season,” said McCarthy, speaking at a press conference held earlier to announce that the logo of Suffolk charity the East Anglian Children's Hospice will appear on the back of the first team's shirts this season. Sane old same old. Utter tosh from the dinosaur. So scared about our problems. Past it manager. Dross "proper blokes" who he will select no matter what !!!! Prove me wrong boys. COYB

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44_not_out added 14:54 - Aug 4 Isn't it great to see such positivity from the likes of penguin. New season, new hope but alas those living in the past still believe we have a devine right to be in the premier league. Yes, we did punch above our weight for a few years in late 70's and early 80's and also had a brief renaissance under Burley. But we are no different to the likes of Forest, Villa and dare I say it Naaridge. What will help is a positive crowd behind the team!

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bluehook added 14:55 - Aug 4 I agree Penguin. All the press guys seem frightened to ask anything pertinent.
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Pilgrimblue added 15:17 - Aug 4 Same as radio Suffolk too frightened to ask a) why did he play Chambers at rb when it was clear his best was at CB b) why did he select such a defensive midfield for much last season and c) why doesn't he encourage team to keep possession ( town were worst in league) and play on the deck?
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BlueMachines added 16:21 - Aug 4 Disjointed pre-season. Wonder how many times that excuse will be rolled out?
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runningout added 16:22 - Aug 4 Agree, this nickname usage is cringeworthy.. Whenever used!
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bbg added 16:39 - Aug 4 Pilgrimblue: Because all of those questions relate to last season and he may as well be asked why Chambers played RB when we finished in the top 6 and 7 in consecutive years. BTW I think he is best as RCB in a three, which isnt hugely different positionally to a tucked in, non overlapping RB, which is the role he played. Personally I think we should be looking forward to the progression of Dozzell, Downes and Nydam. For the first time in years (barring Bishop's fleeting promise), we have three academy players with a real chance of making it. I still wouldn't be certain that Emmanuel and Kenlock will, but hopefully they will prove me wrong. With his ability as a playmaker that no other squad member has, Dozzell is well capable of getting into the league team and staying there, irrespective of the availability of others , and I woudn't rule out the other two either. We will miss Berra & Lawrence, but if we can get our defence back on track we can still be competitive and there was a definite attempt during pre season to play out from the back which is another positive sign. A fit Webster will be huge help in that regard.

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jas0999 added 16:46 - Aug 4 Good. We need them.
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ChrisFelix added 16:53 - Aug 4 Interested to see what the attendance will be. For the first time for several seasons I will be at home listening on the radio. Used to be exciting time the beginning of a new season. Shame not much to get excited about with the current Mcarthy style or type of play
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armchaircritic59 added 17:54 - Aug 4 44 not out, can't disagree with the no-one has a divine right to be in the premiership, comment. It has to be earned. Unfortunately these days, in general, clubs need some signifcant investment to help along the way. If you can marry that with bringing promising young players into the side, things should certainly look up. This club appears to have been on a downward spiral for a number of years. In my opinion it's either time for a change or for ME to ease open that wallet (he can afford it) and forget about FFP, it's a dead duck (ask PSG)! Then of course it's over to the manager!

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86wsblue added 19:32 - Aug 4 The negativity on here is draining me lads, first game of the season ffs. Just enjoy it.
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