PLAYMAKER Gavin Williams is set to take a massive step back to full fitness by turning out for Ipswich Town against Bury Town tonight.The Welsh midfielder has been struggling with groin problems for much of the last 10 months, but Blues boss Jim Magilton is hoping his injury woes can be left behind.

By Derek Davis

PLAYMAKER Gavin Williams is set to take a massive step back to full fitness by turning out for Ipswich Town against Bury Town tonight.

The Welsh midfielder has been struggling with groin problems for much of the last 10 months, but Blues boss Jim Magilton is hoping his injury woes can be left behind.

“Gavin Williams should make an appearance against Bury Town subject to him coming through training. If not (he will return) in Antwerp, as he is very close to playing,” said Magilton. “It is heartening that Gavin has stepped up training.

“We have to be guided by his soreness and he is training more and more so we want to get him right and we are heading in the right direction. The medical team deserve a lot of credit for bringing in through and keeping then reins on him and the reins on me because I want him to play.”

Richard Naylor and Sylvain Legwinski, who are being brought back steadily from long-term injuries, and Jaime Peters could all figure tonight.

After the Bury game Town will look to step up a gear in terms of competition, with Royal Antwerp on Tuesday and then Panathinaikos on Sunday week. In between they plan to play some behind-closed-doors games, including another match against Crawley Town, and to go to Leiston next Friday.

Magilton has been happy with how his pre-season preparation has been going, with one slight reservation.

He said: “We have had to work hard and as pre-season has gone on the fitness has improved. I have been disappointed in the quality we have shown in some games, but when we have got a head of steam up we have looked real quality. “Defensively, as a unit we have not looked fantastic, but it is something we can work on.”