Town goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski will return to first team action for the first time since September in this weekend’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Portsmouth.

“I guess I’m playing,” laughed the giant Pole at a press conference on Thursday. “To be honest I didn’t know for sure — no one has told me yet — but if I’m here I suppose I must be playing and I am really looking forward to Saturday.

“It has been a difficult and frustrating time for me so I will be happy to be playing again.”

Bialkowski started the current campaign as boss Mick McCarthy’s first-choice last line of defence and appeared in the opening day 2-2 draw at Brentford as well as the subsequent home wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley, two sides now competing alongside Town for coveted play-off places.

It was only as a result of tragic circumstances, the death of his father, that he lost his first team place, with McCarthy granting him compassionate leave so that he could return home to be with his family.

Bialkowski said: “I lost my Dad and then I was in Poland for a couple of weeks. It was really tough when I lost him because he was such a big part of my life and football career. He was my hero and I still get a bit emotional when I am talking about him.

“Dean took my place and he has been in absolutely fantastic form since coming back into the team.

“That’s football and there’s nothing I can do about it. Of course it is frustrating but I have been training hard every day because in football you just never know when your time is going to come. All you can do is keep fit and continue to do what you are doing.”

Bialkowski did get the nod to play in the 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat by Manchester United in September but that proved to be a one-off and since then he has had to play second fiddle to Gerken, who has grasped his opportunity to stay in the starting line-up.

Asked if he felt he should have been restored to the first team following his return to the club, Bialkowski added: “No, because there was a similar situation last season when Dean was in the team, got injured and was ruled out for three games. But I kept my place and that was it.

“Now Dean is in the team and playing really well so he has kept his place. There is nothing I can do about it because it is the manager’s decision.

“I accept that but at the same time I obviously wasn’t happy about it. All I can do is to keep training well and keep supporting Dean because he’s my really good mate.

“We are training every day with each other and we are very close. Last season he was always there for me, supporting me and now I am doing exactly the same for him. I truly like him, he’s a really good guy and there in no animosity between us.”

Photo: Action Images

rfretwell added 06:49 - Jan 8 Great to see Bart back but will prob be his last game till the 4th round
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sidtheswan added 07:16 - Jan 8 Be funny to see a goalkeeper command his box for a change . Deano has improved but still does not command his area as much as Bart does . Be good to see Bart back hope not too ring rusty .
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VulpineBlue added 07:22 - Jan 8 It will be good to see you Bart. Clean sheet please.
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mow_the_lawn added 07:24 - Jan 8 It must be hard for Bart to say Gerken has been fantastic without breaking a smile. Gerken's a good shot stopper but I've yet to see any improvement on his communication, his command of his area, his decision making or his kicking since his arrival at the club. Bart looked nervous when he first joined but you can see he has improved as a keeper in his time here.
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Westy added 07:31 - Jan 8 MM considers Gerks to be his best keeper. I think there is little to choose between Gerks and Bart now, but the point is that MM is putting out what he believes is a weakened team. I would never do that. Surely, always play your strongest team.
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TheSelkirk added 07:49 - Jan 8 I haven't been a big fan of Gerks over time, and I am still not happy about the way he kept his place after Bart's enforced absence, but I think the time has come to get of Gerks back and give the guy some credit his recent performances. I agree with you about the 'weakened' team Westy. I would love for us to have a good cup run and hope that when / if we progress further MM might consider playing a full strength team.

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cooper4england added 08:06 - Jan 8 It's his own fault. Should never of trimmed the beard.
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Jimmy86 added 08:07 - Jan 8 Whilst Gerken has improved recently and has played well against the likes of Charlton, MK Dons and Brighton, I get the feeling he's always got a clanger in him. Feel safer with Bart in goal, who commands his area a lot better. Mick says only the 3rd goal against Reading can be remotely down to Bart, what about forest away and both goals at home against Wolves?? He's been lucky the ref has given him free kicks against Derby, Boro and Burnley, where he came off his line half heartedly

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rfretwell added 08:25 - Jan 8 Come on Jimmy86 if its a free kick, its a free kick - get over criticising Gerks for being "lucky"!!!
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Jimmy86 added 09:29 - Jan 8 What I was saying, is he was perhaps a tad lucky that it was given as a free kick, same as in the Derby and Boro games. He has improved and is a good shot stopper, but what would have happened if they hadn't been given as free kicks?? Ball ends up in our net. Needs to be stronger, but has done better of late
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oldegold added 09:32 - Jan 8 Probably means that MM will stick to routine and send out what is not Town's best line up in tomorrow's cup match given his attitude to cup matches and how he generally "bottles" these games - still remember his pathetic excuse for the Carling Cup match against Man Utd in September...and how he was saving the team for the following weekend's Championship match....which we lost with a woeful performance against Bristol City...Top class management. To think that under Sir Bobby we had developed a fine cup fighting tradition and look at us now...

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BlueKush added 09:43 - Jan 8 @oldegold We drew with Bristol City. Gerken should've saved it n all.
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iaintaylorx added 10:11 - Jan 8 lets hope he saves 10 penalties and makes hundreds of worldie saves and he might get that spot back!
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afrodids added 10:45 - Jan 8 Our best keeper!!
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MathieandMarshall added 12:22 - Jan 8 I feel for Bart. He was rightly given leave to return home to his family but it is wrong to say that Gerks was in great form and rightfully kept his place. We shipped goals for fun in those first few games and there were a couple of howlers from Gerken along the way. Mick could easily have justified re-instating Bart on his return but chose not to.
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