Town conclude their pre-season friendly programme when National League Southend United visit Portman Road this evening (KO 7pm).

It’s unusual to have the final friendly only four days from the start of the new season and manager Kieran McKenna explained his thinking following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Championship Millwall at the Den.

“We wanted to have it, it’s very important to get the minutes up for the players,” he said. “We wanted to give certain players a lot of minutes today but we want to make sure going into next Saturday as many players as we can are 90-minutes ready.

“If there are any injuries or anything that happens during the week, we don’t want any of them coming into the game undercooked.

“A good chance for us to play at Portman Road, a good chance for the players that haven’t played there very often to get another game at the stadium, get familiar with the surroundings and the minutes will be primarily for those who haven’t had minutes today.

“But the other guys will be involved as well and we’ll just treat it as part of our training week.

“I don’t think we’ll start anyone who started today but we won’t decide Saturday’s team until after Tuesday night.

“Everyone’s still fighting for spots, still showing themselves, it’s a chance for the guys who didn’t start today to start on Tuesday night and we’ll look at the team for Saturday after that.”

Those that start may well include Vaclav Hladky, Idris El Mizouni, Corrie Ndaba, Cameron Burgess, Kane Vincent-Young, Cameron Humphreys, Rekeem Harper, Sone Aluko, Kyle Edwards, Kayden Jackson and Tyreece John-Jules.

Dominic Ball and Greg Leigh missed Saturday's trip to South London with knocks but McKenna was hopeful they could return for this evening's match.

One man who perhaps may not be involved is new £1 million signing Leif Davis, who said yesterday he was very tired having returned from Leeds United’s pre-season trip to Australia at the weekend.

Reflecting on how his squad is set ahead of the start of the season proper on Saturday, McKenna added: “You never know 100 per cent until the game starts and it’s only one game and so whatever happens Saturday isn’t going to dictate the course of our season.

“But I think we’ve prepared as well as we can, the players have trained every so hard, I’m really happy with the fixture programme. We finish off with Southend on Tuesday night.

“The squad looks strong, thankfully we haven’t picked up and major injuries over the course of pre-season. The boys who were here last year are getting back into the flow and the new boys are settling in but settling well.

“I think we’ve controlled most of what we can control in terms of it being a really good pre-season and we’ll be as ready as we can for Saturday and look forward to the game.”

Southend, who finished 13th in the National League last season, are likely to include one-time Town academy scholar Nathan Ralph in their line-up.

New signing, forward Chris Wreh, the son of former Arsenal and Monaco man Christopher, also looks set to be involved.

Photo: Steve Waller

boroughblue added 10:43 - Jul 26 Still think its very bizarre having a friendly this close to the start of the season, but I'm 100% behind KMc's project and process. I guess as the article says it may not be many of Saturdays starters. Good to get another game at PR, first outing for the new screen?
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legoman added 10:52 - Jul 26 Good idea this game, the cup squads need to prepare too. Bring on Leif for the last two minutes so we can give him a cheer?
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ipswich134 added 11:29 - Jul 26 KM intends to have a squad so everyone is expected to be ready when called upon. The intention is to give some game to to those who didn't start on Saturday.
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ArnieM added 11:37 - Jul 26 I suspect a fair few fans will be watching the woman's quarter finals v Sweden tonight .
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Barty added 11:51 - Jul 26 ArnieM - its the semi-final mate
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Jonaldo added 12:28 - Jul 26 Unpopular comment.....but seems to be employing a similar approach and style and squad rotation policy to Paul Lambert. Hopefully, we can finish higher than we did with the Muppets and pittance of a budget he had, which was clearly a pre-sale holding pattern (similar to his role at AV).
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ArnieM added 12:29 - Jul 26 Yes I know, that's why I'm saying a lot of fans might opt to watch the England game than go to a second string pre season friendly .
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blues1 added 12:36 - Jul 26 Arniem. You may well be right, but we have sold 6000 for the game, which is a,decent number considering who the game is against. Personally will be recording the womens game, watch it later.
4

blues1 added 12:39 - Jul 26 Bòroughblue. Think its unlikely they'll be using the big screen tonight. Know its up but don't think it's supposed to be ready for use until Saturday. Have to see I guess tho. U never know.
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EssexBlue11 added 12:58 - Jul 26 I think it's a good opportunity for the squad to get additional minutes in their legs prior to the season starting. I do believe we'll stick with a nucleus of 15-16 players throughout the season with changes to form as well as allowing for injuries and knocks. This is probably the best squad and set-up we've had for years so fingers crossed for a cracking season.
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Barty added 13:21 - Jul 26 ArnieM - I understand what you are saying but i just pointed out its the semi final [ not the quarter final as you said ]
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ArnieM added 13:32 - Jul 26 Oh I'm sorry , yes of course it is : plonkier am I or what !!
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Linkboy13 added 14:45 - Jul 26 Seems rather a strange friendly to have last game but perhaps they wanted a easier run out so close to Saturday.
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pg888 added 15:23 - Jul 26 Am quite looking forward to it! Seems a good idea to have a friendly for the fringe players . John jules and Jackson will start I presume and both looked sharp on Saturday so it is a chance to impress. Would rather be at Portman road than watching any kind of international!
1

Billysherlockblue added 16:34 - Jul 26 All this is getting ready for Saturday. Cant wait! 💙
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