IPSWICH Town are close to finalising details to play Colchester United in a pre-season friendly, writes Derek Davis.The U's will be added to a schedule which already includes their Essex rivals Southend United, managed by former Colchester boss Steve Wignall.

IPSWICH Town are close to finalising details to play Colchester United in a pre-season friendly, writes Derek Davis.

The U's will be added to a schedule which already includes their Essex rivals Southend United, managed by former Colchester boss Steve Wignall.

The Blues have confirmed the three games they will play during their six-day trip to Sweden and Denmark starting on July 17. They will play Swedish side Mjallby AIF on Friday, July 18, followed two days later with an afternoon kick-off at Danish club IF Helsingor. Town will return to their base in Sweden to play Trelleborg.

Before they fly out Joe Royle's side will travel to Southend on Tuesday, July 15, with Tesfaye Bramble, brother of Titus and once a youth player at Town, expected to line-up for the Shrimpers. Days after their return they will meet a Boston United side brimming with familiar faces. Managed by Neil Thompson, the Pilgrims include Richard Logan, Robert Dickinson and Lee Beevers, with the latter two hoping for full-time contracts after a trial period.

A couple more fixtures, including the U's game are still to be confirmed, and Ipswich are looking to play a prestigious friendly at home on Friday, August 1.

n Ipswich Town's Dean Bowditch was in the England team which opened its European Under-17 championship campaign in Portugal with a 2-1 win over Israel yesterday.