Page 8 - Jay Tabb News Today

Jay Tabb was enjoying a round of golf in June when he returned to the clubhouse to find he had been bombarded by texts on his mobile phone.

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturdays game by delving into their forums.

Summer signing Jay Tabb has revealed that boss Mick McCarthy paid him a huge compliment soon after snapping him up on loan from Reading last season.

Mick McCarthy admits that facing Reading at the Madejski Stadium is a tough way to start his first full season as Town boss. The Blues go into the opening game of the campaign with injury concerns regarding Aaron Cresswell, Luke Hyam and Anthony Wordsworth.

Anthony Wordsworth netted a final minute winner as the Blues beat Southend 2-1 at Roots Hall in their penultimate pre-season friendly. Trialist Balint Bajner had put Town ahead just before the hour mark with Myles Weston equalising for the home side. Late on, David McGoldrick made his long-awaited return from injury.

Bartosz Bialkowski starts his first game for the Blues as Town take on Southend at Roots Hall in their penultimate pre-season friendly (KO 7.45pm). Striker David McGoldrick is on the bench and is set to make his return from his knee problems in the second half.

Towns penultimate pre-season friendly at Southend remains 0-0 at the break.

On Friday, Town are back in Austria with a double header against Bundesliga sides RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen in the Innsbruck Cup. I’ll take a look at what Town can expect from those two opponents, run through their previous seasons, the managers and the squads.

The Town squad began pre-season training at Playford Road this morning and TWTD was there to catch the squad begin their preparations for the 2015/16 campaign.

Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles will now complete his season-long loan move to the Blues on Thursday, TWTD understands.