New signing Bartosz Bialkowski is determined not to spend too much time on the bench while with Town, believing he was a substitue too often earlier in his career. The Pole joined the Blues from Notts County earlier in the week and played the second half of Wednesday’s friendly against West Ham.

Manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Dean Gerken will start the season as his number one but Bialkowski - who has joined on a free with the Magpies receiving cash if Town go up or if the keeper is sold on - will be doing all he can to get into the side.

“Everyone wants to play and I’m no different,” he said. “I will do my best to try and impress the gaffer, keep training hard, keep training hard and we’ll see.

“I sat on the bench way too many times for Southampton and I don’t want to be in that situation again.”

At 27 he believes he’s getting towards the peak of his career: “That is the best stage for a goalkeeper. I’ve played almost 100 games in the last two seasons, I’m getting older and I don’t want to sit on the bench.”

Bialkowski says he enjoyed Tuesday’s game against West Ham: “It was a good to have my debut against a decent side. I was pleased with my overall performance.

“I didn’t have much to do but it’s still early on and I was happy to play 45 minutes. I was quite pleased [with the saves I made] but it’s still early on. I’m building my fitness.”

The seeds of his move to Town were sown in pre-season last year when he was approached by Blues keeper-coach Malcolm Webster.

“When Notts County played against Ipswich last year in a pre-season friendly I spoke to Mally and he said to me that they were going to watch me during the season, so I knew there was interest and I was trying to do my best to impress the Ipswich staff,” he said.

“I was happy with my last two seasons. I’ve been playing week-in, week-out and I was happy with my performances.

“Last season was a crazy one with Notts County having been down the bottom for such a long time but we managed to get out of the relegation zone, on the last day as well so that was something special.

“I‘ve been quite busy in the last two seasons but that led to me coming here - I had lots to do and I could show my abilities.”

Bialkowski and Webster go back a long way: “I remember when I was 18 I went to Hearts on a two-month trial. Mally was there and George Burley was there as well.

“After a week they left but as soon as they joined Southampton they gave me a call and I signed for them.

“Mally is a lovely guy, a great person and a fantastic goalkeeping coach. One of the best, if not the best I have worked with.”

Having previously played for Poland at U20 level, Bialkowski hopes one day to win full caps: “That was always my dream, that’s why I made a step backwards to join Notts County in order to play every week.

“That was the plan, play week-in, week-out and move forward again. I’m still dreaming about playing for Poland, that’s my goal.”

This isn’t Bialkowski’s first spell with the Blues, he spent a short time on loan at the end of the 2008/09 season as cover for Shane Supple, who had gone on loan to Oldham.

He says that stint might have led to a permanent move, despite him not playing a first-team game: “I was here for the last two or three months of the 2008/09 season. I enjoyed my time here even if I didn’t play, I was quite happy with the training sessions.

“Jim Magilton signed me but after that Roy Keane came in and I think he was trying to sign me in the summer but Southampton said no. It’s my second spell and hopefully I’ll get many more games!”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

SouperJim added 06:50 - Jul 18 Really hope he's a success here, as while I think Gerken has been decent, a top quality keeper would be a big step towards promotion.
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StuartBrett8 added 07:33 - Jul 18 Decent competition in all areas of the pitch is really important.... but a solid goalie who doesn't concede many is brilliant :)
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Flewitt85 added 07:53 - Jul 18 By the sound of this we are not going toemotional nced alot of goals this season, B seems very confident and DG is a great goalkeeper and they are both going to be fighting for there place. This is very positive for the season ahead. It going to be emotional! COYB
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Flewitt85 added 07:54 - Jul 18 * To conced Bloody phone!
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ArnieM added 07:54 - Jul 18 I'll put my house on it he's not on the bench long. He looks a fabulous GK. Juzt hope he commands the area.
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Jimmy86 added 09:10 - Jul 18 Deano did wel for us last season, but he made too many costly errors that ultimately cost us points. I hope Bart soon becomes the number 1 as I thinl he is probably the better keeper, great point blank save the other night, good kicking and distribution and was confident claimimg crosses
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commuterblue added 10:02 - Jul 18 get's down well for a big man. was never convinced by gerks, although he was absolutely better than loach.
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bluemin_nora added 10:58 - Jul 18 So the video was made up of a lot of dramatic saves and shot blocking. But what's he like on the basics? The kicking? The catching? Crosses? Distribution?
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dford7 added 12:26 - Jul 18 I think he might be number 1 soon. Some great saves in that comilation, assuming he can do the basics. He certainly knows how to make the tip over the bar look dramatic! At 6' 4'' that bar needs a 'mind your head sign on it....
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algarvefan added 12:30 - Jul 18 Hollywood stuff on the video, let's hope his skills elsewhere are as good, distribution for me is an important role for a keeper, Serini was good at Hollywood dives but spilt more than Manuel at Fawlty Towers!!!!! Anyhow welcome Bart and good luck at ITFC
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buddsterblue added 13:04 - Jul 18 Algarve: agree other attributes are very important, most keepers can pull of a Hollywood but can they play successfully with their feet and come for a cross in the six yard box, hendo was last keeper that done that don't see it from loach or gerks Thought beat looked good against west ham first game and all considered
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buddsterblue added 13:05 - Jul 18 Bart not beat sorry
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Flewitt85 added 13:23 - Jul 18 Why do people on here put thumbs down then not explain why!! What's the point putting thumbs down! Explain please!
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BigHibbs added 13:58 - Jul 18 You always want competition for places and having two good goalkeepers can only help towards that. I believe gerks is no1 as mm stated recently but loach was this time last year and gerks played 40 times so bart should look at that as inspiration !
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Scribble added 14:26 - Jul 18 Bit over dramatic in the video, don't think there was one clip where he actually caught one, could of caught half of them but went for the dramatics instead. Will give him a chance to see what he's like in a game first but I'm not thrilled by that video. Gets down well at his near post though.
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algarvefan added 16:09 - Jul 18 Ooooops !!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:23 - Jul 18 Flewitt I gave you thumbs down for whingeing about thumbs down.
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jas0999 added 18:12 - Jul 18 Gerken is average. Don't get me wrong, he tried and the effort was there. But he is not brilliant. We need a keeper who is so much more than just a shot stopper. We need control of the area, good ability lat crosses ... Someone who leaves the line. Whether the new chap is up to it remains to be seen.
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paulm3paw added 19:03 - Jul 18 Just watch video and the only thing I noticed is he dont hold on to many balls, mostly pushed away but not going to judge until I can see him in action.
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gobs93 added 02:16 - Jul 19 In my opinion, when it comes to keepers you can play in the premiership or league one, the shots will still come in just as fast and just as hard. Obviously players of top quality will put good chances away but looking at bartosz on YouTube he is a top keeper and at a prime age. I think he will go on to become our number one for a long time and could be the difference between us being a team challenging for the play offs to being a solid top 6 team. It may seem optimistic but I think that if we all get behind mick and TC and they carry on making top signings for cheap then we can actually go far this season! COYB!!

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bring_back_Wickham added 16:02 - Jul 19 Give us a new story!
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MathieandMarshall added 22:19 - Jul 19 Would prefer to see a compilation video of him commanding his box and claiming crosses. That would make me really excited! :)
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ChrisFelix added 11:50 - Jul 20 The clip shows that we bought a new no 1 goalkeeper. Yes he punches & parries a lot,.but always away from the incoming strikers. Gerken is only an average keeper, not good enough to get us to the promised land
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Tractamatt added 16:04 - Jul 20 Just heard Henderson has left west ham so could have had him on a free think we rushed into this deal now.
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