IPSWICH Town suffered a further injury blow when Luca Civelli went off with a knock on his right knee after just 10 minutes of last night’s friendly at Ridgeons League Leiston.

IPSWICH Town suffered a further injury blow when Luca Civelli went off with a knock on his right knee after just 10 minutes of last night’s friendly at Ridgeons League Leiston.

The Argentinean, who missed the whole of last season after damaging the same knee in March 2009, had ice immediately strapped to the injury.

He was taken off as a precaution after being on the receiving end of a hard but fair tackle.

Civelli will be assessed today to see what the extent of the damage is keeping his fingers crossed that his long fight back to full fitness has not suffered a lasting blow.

He lasted longer last night than team mate Alan Quinn with the fellow midfielder suffering a groin injury when taking a free-kick in the first minute.

Town included a Brazilian trialist in front man Marcos Picciarelli but the youngster did little of note when he replaced Pablo Counago for the final 27 minutes.

On a perfectly groomed pitch, Ipswich deserved their win, but Leiston were certainly not disgraced and had chances to have caused a surprise.

With Town manager Roy Keane looking on, it was reserve team manager Chris Kiwomya who ran a Town team that saw recent signing Conor Hourihane enjoy a busy game in midfield.

The Irishman struck the post with a deflected 40th minute shot – four minutes after Ronan Murray had given Town the lead when he took advantage of a mix-up in the hope defence to prod home a cross by Lee Martin following a run down the left by the former Manchester United man.

Danny Cunningham and Mark Goldfinch had close first half efforts and Danny Smy headed against the resolute Tom Eastman in the 79th minute.

But Ipswich scored again two minutes later when Murray and Jamie Griffiths combined for Dave Cawley to sweep a cross low into the net from 12 yards.

Leiston, who were without hamstring victim Shane Wardley, enjoyed as much possession as their professional opponents and will have benefitted from the work-out.

Leiston: Stannard (sub Dixon 58 mins), Saker (Payne 78), Ottley-Gooch, D Head, Goldfinch, S Head (Calver 55), Cunningham (Kerslake 83), Heath, Smy (Block 83), Boardley, Brothers.

Ipswich Town: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley, Dunbar, Hourihane (Clark 58), Brown, Eastman, Martin, Quinn (Cawley 1), Counago (Picciarelli 63), Murray, Civelli (Griffiths 10). Subs: McLoughlin, Lambe, McKeown.

Referee: Mr N Cooper (Ipswich)

Attendance: 668