IPSWICH Town players were today going through their paces at Loughborough University with manager Jim Magilton expecting them all to graduate with honours at the end of the week.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town players were today going through their paces at Loughborough University with manager Jim Magilton expecting them all to graduate with honours at the end of the week.

The Blues boss has taken his squad to the world famous sporting centre at this early stage of pre-season training so that they will be 'hit the ground running' when the Coca-Cola Championship season starts.

Magilton expects his players to return to Suffolk on Friday benefiting from the thorough examination they will have with the best coaches and sporting gurus in the land.

“My players will be set up and ready to go on to the next stage of pre-season development,” said Magilton. “We have competitive matches starting next week and will build-up until we meet West Brom and then West Ham when I will be looking to field full strength sides.

“In some matches we will have a lot of possession and in others we won't. We can learn from both experiences - as we are in Loughborough this week.”

Town physio Matt Byard is in no doubt about the worth of this week saying: “The facilities are first class and it's been a base for the England cricket and rugby union teams.

“There is a cross section of activities, with plenty of football and general fitness work as well as other sports, like volleyball.

“The players will also be working under the expert eye of professor Clyde Williams and his team. We will be looking right across the board of sports science and discussing how we can develop analysis of all aspects of fitness to our advantage.”

Town, who play a friendly against an English Universities team on Friday, have former Fulham left back Adam Green with them at Loughborough.

The 23-year-old, who has been playing for Grays and Woking in the Blue Square Premier, was once described as 'the best left back for his age in the country'.

Magilton is having a look at him, but he will have to stand out to be in with a chance of a contract.