IPSWICH Town will be spending a week using the hi-tech sporting facilities at Loughborough University as manager Jim Magilton takes a different route in pre-season training.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town will be spending a week using the hi-tech sporting facilities at Loughborough University as manager Jim Magilton takes a different route in pre-season training.

The early return after a shortened summer break could pose headaches for some players. Jonathan Walters is getting married on June 15 - three days after the players officially report back to the Rushmere-based training ground.

And keeper Lewis Price is keeping his fingers crossed he will be involved in the Wales squad to play Euro 2008 qualifying games at the end of May and June 2.

If so the 22-year-old will only have ten days rest before he reports back to Ipswich to prepare for the new season.

Other Ipswich players could be in a similar boat if called up for full internationals with 17-goal Alan Lee and defender Alex Bruce possibilities in the Irish squad.

Ipswich have taken advice from top continental clubs and have scheduled their programme accordingly - with Loughborough specialists arranging some of the fitness regime.

Magilton intends to spend more time on the practice pitch and playing more games, with a fixture already confirmed at Burton Albion on July 10 and a game or two in Ireland set to be fitted in.

The Town boss, who took over last summer, feels his side did not have the best preparation for this season.

He said: “I want us to play a lot of football and get a lot of games under our belts so we hit the season running.

“I felt we were short last summer and we didn't have a good pre-season. This time I want a group of 23 players ready to go on the opening day.”

For the first time for many years Ipswich will not be going on a pre-season tour and they are hoping to play a couple of games at Portman Road before the serious stuff starts.