Midfielder Gavin Williams is progressing well and should be fit to start pre-season training with the rest of the squad. Williams is one of a number of players who have returned to training before the official restart on June 26th.

Williams has been out of action since undergoing knee surgery earlier in the year but fitness coach Simon Thadani told the club site that the Welshman is on track: "Gavin is doing well and moving forward.

"He did some multi-directional work last week and is now doing some basic drills involving kicking a ball.

"He's making encouraging progress and is on course to return to pre-season training with the others at the end of the month."

Defenders Richard Naylor and Scott Barron are also already back at the club, while new skipper Jason De Vos, fellow Canadian Jaime Peters, striker Sam Parkin and veteran Dutchman Fabian Wilnis are all due back on Monday.

De Vos says the Blues need to make a good start to the season: "We must get ourselves in tune so that we can hit 2006/07 with all guns blazing. Our fans deserve nothing less.

"We are all right behind Jim, and from having known him for two years, I know he has the right credentials to take Ipswich back into the Premiership."

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