Keeper Arran Lee-Barrett has reflected on what is proving to be a topsy-turvy campaign with no lack of competition for the Town first team berth.

Despite England squad man David Stockdale (Fulham) and Alex McCarthy (Reading) both arriving at Portman Road on loan, as well as Richard Wright returning for a third spell with the club, Lee-Barrett has clocked up 10 appearances.

The Ipswich-born keeper, who is contracted until June 2013, said: “On a personal note I am very pleased to be playing. It has been up and down with patches where I’ve played and others where I’ve been out of the team. But it’s a squad game and everyone at the club is important.”

Asked how he reacted upon hearing the news that McCarthy had been signed on loan, Lee-Barrett admitted: “It was disappointing but you just have to keep going.”

And when the conversation turned to the possibility of a new loan defender being recruited to fill the gap caused by Sonko’s absence, the goalkeeper commented: “I think we’ve got a couple of good defenders in Damo and Tommy.

“But if the manager wants to bring someone in that’s his decision. Any player joining us will find it’s a good dressing room to come into. We’re all together and we’ll welcome him.

“It’s been great for confidence winning our last two games and collecting the points to move up the table. I feel we have done well in our last four games and it was nice to see us taking that into Saturday’s game against Middlesbrough.”

Photo: Action Images

alztar added 14:05 - Feb 14 Hasn't deserved the stick if you ask me
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MarcFowler added 14:08 - Feb 14 I actually think he's a perfectly decent keeper.. he's made mistakes, but, so does everybody. I don't think we should be dropping him. Surely he is exactly what people want in terms of a hungry player, right?
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dommyboyblue added 14:10 - Feb 14 I agree. To be fair Peter Schmeical would have looked like a flapping gian behind our defence at time this season. Deserves a steady run with a settled defence, confidence is key with keepers and he has not made any massive howlers. Yes he could have come out quicker against Leeds but he had just came off the bench and had been dropped for IMO a worse goalkeeper.
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irishtim added 14:54 - Feb 14 Keep the faith Aaron. You can hold your head high. Have played well & never sulked. I like that spirit.
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brd added 14:56 - Feb 14 Very unfair on him that PJ has not had much faith and, after training all season waiting for the right time, was just overlooked for Wright, then McCarthy. I do think, though, that keeping him out of the team has been a good thing. He's come back hungrier and has pulled off some decent, decent saves. Good goalkeeper imho
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bluelady added 14:56 - Feb 14 his distribution saturday (other than one kick that went into touch) looked pretty good... no hoofing up pitch as we have seen of old. The best of the bunch of what we currently have, give him rest of season, but def recruit in Summer (Loach is my preference)
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jas0999 added 15:52 - Feb 14 I still do not believe ALB is the answer, but has done okay for us this season and was frankly, like a number of other players, badly/harshly treated by PJ, who I understood (wrongly) was supposed to be an arm round the shoulder type of manager. sadly, PJ continues to not learn from his many many mistakes and even in January signed another loan keeper for just three months to April. Even if McCarthy played, what was he going to do in April? Return poor ALB to the starting line up I suspect. PJ has been in charge for almost 14 months and it's disappointing that he still makes these poor decisions. Where is the CB or two? Best of luck to ALB tonight. He deserves a run in the team - no thanks to PJ.

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Sindre94 added 16:02 - Feb 14 great attitude!
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cooper4england added 16:03 - Feb 14 Be honest Mr Keane, are you jas0999? Stop sulking, a conference team will recognise your talent
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brd added 16:04 - Feb 14 @bluelady I agree. ALB is fine for now but not answer to a long-term sort of thing. I think Scott Loach would be good
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JayITFC added 16:16 - Feb 14 I think the merry-go-round of goalkeepers at Portman Road over the last couple of years has been one of the major contributing factors to our woeful league positions.
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Lightningboy added 16:36 - Feb 14 Decent keeper..always thought he's had some unfair stick..I wouldn't fancy the job of playing behind our defenders. Stick with him PJ..don't go wasting time and money on another GK,at least not until the summer.
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village_blue added 16:59 - Feb 14 Agree think that ALB has taken a lot of unfair stick and that he is quite a compotent keeper.He's had a lot to put up with since arriving at PR what with the last two managers don't seem to have much faith in him , but to his credit he has just gritted his teeth and kept on going which imo has made him a better keeper, keep up the good work ALB.
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buryblue77 added 16:59 - Feb 14 Why can't he be our number one? The trouble is, he makes a mistake and seems to get dropped, remember many keepers don't really come good until they hit their late 20's/early 30's I think I've seen enough in him that given the right coaching and given his own desire to play that he could well be our number one! Look at some of the decisions that Stockdale made, they weren't always great, McCarthy, I'm sorry but he is rubbish and Wright hasn't really been any good since 2001. In my view he's the best that we've got at the moment and if he keeps up his level of performance he could stake a claim to be number one. Maybe that's why PJ has only so far brought in loaness, because he sees something in ALB?

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MrCool added 17:02 - Feb 14 I like him. Young and certainly room for improvement - but, as others have said, playing behind our defenders must have been a real challenge for the lad. COYB!!!
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sereneblue added 18:34 - Feb 14 He's young,from Ipswich ,has the right attitude and wants to play for our club. These are all the requirements everyone keeps banging on about. Lets show a bit of encouragement.
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fourth added 19:25 - Feb 14 He's done VERY well A prophet is without honour in his own country
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Dissboyitfc added 20:32 - Feb 14 a decent keeper, agree with blue lady, scott loach in the summer, but for now certainly willing to give him a run. Been treated poorly i think, but has kept a very professional attitude, exactly the attitude that we want... he deserves this...coyb
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oldegold added 22:40 - Feb 14 I think ALB is starting to prove a lot of people wrong and I'm glad that he is being given a decent run in the team. I just hope that PJ stops bloody getting in paltry loan keepers and gives ALB the chance to really establish himself. Go for it, young man.
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oldegold added 22:42 - Feb 14 Mikey, my little Ipswich fan, thinks ALB should be number one and so does Ely !
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Tractastic added 23:02 - Feb 14 Well he had a clean sheet tonight and judging by his comments on Radio Suffolk hasn't exactly had the best of support from PJ. Well done ALB and whatever happens at ITFC i hope you have a good career.
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yun added 01:20 - Feb 15 Playing way beyond expectations considering how he arrived at the club, good attitude and has rarely let us down.
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Pessimistic added 07:40 - Feb 15 I lie Arran Lee-barrett and always have. He has a wonderful attitude and is a local lad worthy of the number one jersey on merit in my view. This is not the first time we have gone on a sustained winning streak with him in goal. Coincidence? Confusius said that there is no such thing and I am inclined to agree!
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AlanMahon2011 added 12:39 - Feb 15 Clegg Out
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DiamondGezzer added 13:19 - Feb 15 I think there's a lot more to come from this young man.
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