Keeper Michael Crowe has returned to Town following his two-week trial with League Two Portsmouth.

“Michael has gone back to Ipswich and we wish him well,” Pompey manager Paul Cook told the Portsmouth News.

“He would like to be a number one and we respect that, going into our season we are going to keep our options open and keep looking.”

Town boss Mick McCarthy said last week that he was only keen on Crowe making a loan move if he was going to play regularly.

“[A loan move] would be nice for him, if he’s going to play,” he said. “I don’t want him to be going there as a second choice because he can stay here and play in the U21s and be back-up for us because if he goes out we’ll have to get another keeper as back-up.”

Much-travelled American keeper Chris Konopka is now on trial at Fratton Park and was in goal for last night’s 2-2 friendly draw at Salisbury.

Ex-Blue Noel Hunt is also currently on trial with Pompey and scored during last night’s match along with another former Town man, winger Gary Roberts.

Crowe, 20, who recently signed a new one-year deal with an option for a further season, impressed during the Hampshire club’s tour of Ireland earlier this month.

The Wales U21s call-up (pictured above left with U21s skipper Joe Robinson) kept a clean sheet when playing 45 minutes of a 3-3 friendly draw at Sligo Rovers and then played the first 69 minutes of a 2-0 win against Bohemians, who had ex-Blue Shane Supple in goal.

The former IK Start youngster subsequently played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet during last Wednesday’s 5-0 win at Havant and Waterlooville.

Photo: Action Images

BrettenhamBlue added 09:38 - Jul 20 If he wasn't going to play, makes sense he came back.
2

cats_whiskers added 09:55 - Jul 20 There is 2 within the club who deserve to go on trial That is Evans (Almighty) and his sidekick McCarthy Whilst they remain as part of the clubs structure, those dark clouds will hang over this club with very little sunshine in between. We are now showing clear signs of being throttled by their induced methods and becoming lifeless.
-7

leahcar88 added 10:28 - Jul 20 Id give him a chance in a game or2 if he doesn't go on loan this season perhaps seems really good and solid
2

runningout added 10:43 - Jul 20 the beards a no from me... Hard work required by Crowe and Gerken to get near Bart
2

midastouch added 10:53 - Jul 20 Can he play right back? :-)
2

12th_Man added 10:56 - Jul 20 Still no transfer activity
5

BrettenhamBlue added 11:14 - Jul 20 See Fulham are likely to get James Wilson and Norwich are on the verge of signing McManus as a back up keeper. Jake Forster-caskey is on the verge of joining Rotherham and are also linked with former Madrid player Eero Markanen.Tonnes of activity just not with us.
3

midastouch added 11:25 - Jul 20 Transfer business has had to take a backseat to the coveted Celebrity Golf Cup in Portugal it would seem. Or maybe we're just sitting back for a couple more weeks to wait and see who's still left that nobody else wants!
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midastouch added 11:27 - Jul 20 Or maybe we are waiting till after the Colchester match to see which one of their players we are going to sign next! :-)
2

paulcooperisgod added 11:30 - Jul 20 Colchesters best players have left. Should have took a punt on GILBEY or MONCUR... NO AMBITION
5

karls_dad added 12:01 - Jul 20 The prospect of the oncoming season does appear dire at the moment, a mid table finish is all we can expect. The same old player being played out of position, the make do and mend policy without spending any money, no doubt they will have some old lady soon darning socks in a little room out the back! I honestly fear for some of the matches that we will have to face with this second rate squad, no wingers, hoof ball again, no creative midfielders, apart from Teddy who is still a tad fragile and learning his craft!, McGoldrick with his hand in his pocket shorts if they had any, totally disinterested! Its all so predictable, other teams will know what to expect from us, and will set up accordingly, it was plain to see last year! Attendances falling, season ticket numbers likewise, i hinestly fear for the club at the moment, until there is new blood, maybe some sparks from the acadamy, but actually paying for real players ...well that ain,t gonna happen! I,m probably totally wrong, i,m no football expert which is obvious, but i,m starting to cringe already! just take a peek at the squad up the road, can we seriously compete with that? not a snowflakes!

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mickeyjb added 15:06 - Jul 20 What did we honestly expect? We've nobody worth selling like we had the previous two seasons. Getting 8 mill or whatever we got, got us a 300k player, loads of cr@p, one great loan, one loan that regressed, and one decent free signing. That's what 8 mill got us last year so what are we going to get with nothing this year. We've already spent a bigger transfer fee on Webster than all of MMs other signings to date put together. Who were all these young guys who are our own homegrown saviours, playing for last year? The under 21s, because they did really well didn't they! Underwhelmed

3

Bluetone added 17:35 - Jul 20 If we are lucky the new season will be dull, if we are unlucky it will be dire
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onthehoof added 17:41 - Jul 20 Have been looking at Port Vale and their many foreign signings mainly from Portugal it seems..........what are we doing at ITFC? Will keep an eye out for the collection box though
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