Ipswich V Barnsley at Portman Road : Match Preview

04 August 2016 15:34
Ipswich V Barnsley - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Conor Grant could make Ipswich debut in season opener against Barnsley

Ipswich could hand a debut to midfielder Conor Grant in the Sky Bet Championship season opener against Barnsley at Portman Road following his loan move from Everton.

Fellow new signing Grant Ward may be short of match fitness after the winger only completed a permanent switch from Tottenham earlier in the week, but centre-half Adam Webster, who has joined from Portsmouth, could be involved having now fully recovered from a pre-season ankle problem.

Striker Brett Pitman (toe) and goalkeeper Dean Gerken (hamstring) and are both also expected to be available, although forward David McGoldrick is carrying a hip problem.

Midfielder Luke Hyam (knee) is not yet fit, while Giles Coke continues to recover from knee surgery at the end of last season.

Barnsley will be without new boy Angus MacDonald for their first game back in the second tier.

The 23-year-old, who joined last season's Sky Bet League One play-off winners from non-league Torquay on Tuesday, carries over a suspension from last season and will miss the curtain-raiser.

Otherwise, boss Paul Heckingbottom has a full squad to pick from and could hand competitive debuts to a number of summer signings.

Newcomers Tom Bradshaw, George Moncur and Elliot Lee are among those pushing to make their bows.


Source: PAR