Ipswich boxer Steve Sparticus has been joining in Town's pre-season training. Sparticus, the British Masters champion, is a friend of physio Dave Williams having visited the club regularly while recovering from an elbow injury.

Sparticus said: "I've been joining the players in running and swimming, and David suggested I could do something to help them.

"The idea is to bring a bit of my own type of training into the equation and help them in terms of making them fitter, stronger and more powerful.

"I put on sessions with the conditioning pads and the boxing gloves.

"I know the Crystal Palace players have done a bit of boxing as part of their training since Iain Dowie took over and it doesn't seem to have done them any harm."

Striker Dean Bowditch has been particularly keen to work on building his upper body strength ahead of the new season.

Town are continuing their pre-season sessions at the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook.

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