Blues forward Armando Dobra, who is currently away with Albania’s U21s, says playing for Town’s first team remains his goal.

Dobra joined up with the Albanian U21s earlier this week ahead of their opening European Championships qualifier in Andorra on Friday and then a friendly in Bulgaria four days later.

The 20-year-old says he and his Albania U21 team-mates are aiming to finish in the top two in their group, despite facing tough opposition including England. The Czech Republic, Slovenia and Kosovo complete the group.

“The team is strong, some new players have arrived as some of them have gone to [the senior squad]. They are very good players, we have a strong team,” he told the Albanian FA website.

“I hope to come out on top, but England is a very strong team, but our objective is to come out first or second in the group.”

The London-born attacker, who has previously won three U21 caps, says the players who have been with squads before can help the new call-ups settle in.

“We have been with the national team for previous games and we have a little more experience than other players and we can help new players who have come to get to know each other and bring them in the group and tell them that just as we fight for the team, so will you.”

Like most of the Town squad, Dobra has been told he can find another club this summer, however, the academy product added that his aim for the future is still to be involved with Town’s senior side: “My goal is to play with the first team in Ipswich.”

Dobra made 10 starts and nine sub appearances for the Blues in 2020/21, scoring one Papa John’s Trophy goal.

The winger or number 10 was a target of Brighton in January 2020, while other clubs at home and abroad, including Southampton, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta and Dynamo Kyiv, have subsequently shown interest.

Photo: Matchday Images

dirtydingusmagee added 17:08 - May 30 Monkey Blue , the Portman Rd mole ! always knows the ''real'' goings on at ITFC.
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ringwoodblue added 11:53 - May 31 What's done is done. Cook decided to take that approach, some would say it's risky and others long overdue but who stays, goes and comes in will show how successful Cook's approach proves to be. We will wait and see. I suspect that the players who stay will be very different next season as all the coaching staff have changed, new data-driven fitness regimes will be introduced and the old guard will have gone. In terms of new players coming in, it will probably be a mixture of individuals who have played for Cook before and some younger players from leagues 1 and 2. We can't compete with the Championship clubs and big names are likely to go elsewhere but we don't need big names anyway. Looking at Blackpool and Lincoln in the final yesterday, none of their players are that well known, they just work hard for each other and the manager. Was pleased for Garbutt and Ward.

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