Suffolk-born defender Matthew Upson has joined the England squad ahead of Wednesday's international against Croatia at Portman Road. The Birmingham player is the second Suffolk representative in Sven-Goran Eriksson's party, alongside Kieron Dyer.

Upson, who played in the same youth side as Dyer and Richard Wright, was born in Hartismere near Eye.

England skipper David Beckham has declared himself fit for the game but Owen Hargreaves is out injured and Sol Campbell is also looking as if he may miss out.

Recent Manchester City signing Trevor Sinclair has also been added to the squad.

England are staying at a hotel near Maldon in Essex. Hotels both in Ipswich and in surrounding towns like Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Stowmarket are all fully booked while bars and pubs are expecting to do brisk business on Wednesday.

Local business leaders and councillors are reporting that the game will provide a big boost to the region's economy.

Town themselves told TWTD recently that they expect to make just £100,000 from the match with the vast majority of merchandising and ticket revenues going to the FA.

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