New midfield signing Conor Hourihane will be in action when a Town XI travels to Leiston’s Victory Road this evening (KO 7.45pm). Pablo Couñago, Luciano Civelli, Alan Quinn, Colin Healy and Lee Martin are also in the squad.

Hourihane is understood to have impressed in Friday’s behind closed doors 3-0 win against an FC Twente reserves side, playing 45 minutes along with Luciano Civelli.

Boss Roy Keane says the Blues will play one team tonight and another in tomorrow’s friendly at Bury: "We will play one team tonight at Leiston and a different one at Bury on Wednesday so that the players can get as much playing time as possible.

"We will look to give Luca another hour or so tonight and some of the younger lads will be involved as well."

Meanwhile, midfielder Owen Garvan and defender Alex Bruce both trained at Portman Road today despite their ongoing moves to Crystal Palace and Sheffield United.

Elsewhere, former Blue Veliche Shumulikoski is on trial at Palace, having been released by Preston at the end of last season. The Macedonian is in the Eagles squad for tonight’s friendly at Bromley.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

SeriouslyDelusional added 15:27 - Jul 27 Shumi for Palace? I wonder if their fans are unhappy about Burley's scouting network seemingly focused on ex-Town players
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blue_em_away added 15:34 - Jul 27 @SeriouslyDelusional What like RK's on Sunderland and Irish? At least RK's scope is a little wider.
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RetroBlue added 15:36 - Jul 27 Just goes to show you that its NOT a "Roy keane disease" after all. Many managers sign up players they know from previous clubs they have had working connections with the players. Looks like Crystal Palace will take over from Charlton as being the "home" of ex Town players Alan Lee Ambrose Garvan Rosenior Shumi? Dont think CrysTOWN Palace has the same ring to it as CharlTOWN some how!

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Monkey_Blue added 16:35 - Jul 27 What utter rubbish, even if garvan, wright, ambrose, shumi and lee were at palace how is that the same as keanes obsession with players who he has played with or have played for him? Of those 5 burley has managed only one of them previously...ambrose and he didn't even sign ambrose or lee for palace.... Also burley has not made a habit in the past of signing ex players, how many ayr or colchester players did he sign for us? how many town players did he take to hearts or derby? We all know that managers will take players they know to a club, but the odd one... Keane has almost exclusively stuck to ex team mates or players he's managed before and if they aren't that they are likely to be from ireland anyway...look at how many ex team mates or irish lads he signed for sunderland

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jas0999 added 16:39 - Jul 27 Ah so the great George Burley looks to his OLD clubs for players. Fancy that. He will be very familiar with these players and has rightly targeted them - just like Roy is doing re Sunderland players. It's about time people gave it a rest re Roy looking to Sunderland players. Most managers do it.
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SeriouslyDelusional added 17:14 - Jul 27 Burley is the same as any manager in that he has always tapped into players and coaches that he has worked with before. Malcolm Webster has followed him everywhere, and with him people like Kelvin Davis and Lewis Price. He took Rasiak and Idiakez to Southampton from Derby (and Chris Makin to Derby). Having said that Burley has always been a big fan of Simon Hunt and casting his net wide into Europe - I'd certainly like to see Keane look further afield but he is still gaining experience.

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bedsitfc added 17:41 - Jul 27 monkey blue - calm down
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Mark added 18:16 - Jul 27 Burley did not manage or play with D.Wright, Garvan or Shumulikoski so I don't see how this in any way compares with Keane's obsession with only signing players he knows personally because he "trusts" them. Of course, buying what you know to a small extent makes sense but it shouldn't become limiting.
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