JAY Emmanuel-Thomas and David Stockdale could make their Ipswich Town debuts in front of 1,200 travelling Blues supporters at Colchester United tonight.

The duo were both at Portman Road yesterday after the Suffolk club agreed terms with the players’ Premier League employers.

Skilful winger/forward Emmanuel-Thomas is set to be a permanent signing from Arsenal with the fee for the exciting 20-year-old

talent believed to be around �1.1million.

Keeper Stockdale, 25, will be a season-long loan with the Cottagers likely to insert a quick recall clause – possibly as short as 24 hours – in case first choice custodian Mark Schwarzer gets injured.

Once the last few pieces of paperwork are completed this morning the double signing is expected to be officially announced at the

club’s Playford Road training ground.

The duo will then make the short trip down the A12 to Essex neighbours Colchester with the rest of their new team

mates to face the League One club in Town’s fifth pre-season friendly of the summer.

Meanwhile, Town midfielder Conor Hourihane is on trial at League Two side Plymouth Argyle and could feature for the cash-strapped club in a friendly against Cornish side Truro City tonight.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, who is still to make his first team debut for the Blues, was signed by former boss Roy Keane last summer and handed a fresh six-month contract by Jewell in May.