Arran Lee-Barrett looks set to keep his place in the Town goal until at least January with Roy Keane confirming that he isn’t currently looking to sign another keeper. Although under Football League rules the Blues are unable to get anyone in on loan, they could still sign someone who has been without a club since the summer.
Keane says Town’s keeper woes stretch back to the summer: "There’s been a problem with goalkeepers ever since I’ve come to the club. There was the disappointment at the start of the season when Shane retired.
"Obviously now there’s Wrighty getting injured and Asmir Begovic going back last week. This time two weeks ago we had three goalkeepers and now we’re down to one in terms of Arran. We’ve got a young keeper [Ian McLoughlin] coming through but he’s only played two or three reserve matches, he’s a first-year pro.
"As much as we can get away with Arran in terms of the games, we still have training. We have a big squad, we need numbers for training. But we’re aware of the rules that we can’t sign anybody else until one of the other keepers gets injured.
"Fingers crossed the two lads we have will stay fit. I think Arran looked pretty solid last week when he came on. It’s a good opportunity for him and we have great confidence in him.”
Keane says he’s not considered asking Shane Supple to return to the club, having failed to persuade him to remain in football prior to the former Irish U21 international’s retirement: "I tried when he first spoke to me. Ironically Shane might have played the last few games, but we’ve got to respect Shane’s decision. I know he’s getting on with his life and is playing a bit of GAA and is on a course.”
The Blues boss is also not looking at bringing in a keeper who is currently out of contract, preferring instead to stick with Lee-Barrett and McLoughlin, but is assessing what loan options might be available should the former Hartlepool man pick up an injury: "We’re looking at getting one or two lined up if something happened to Arran.”
New signing Brian Murphy is due at the club next week for what Keane has called his "mini-pre-season” but won’t be able to play games until his move from Bohemians is formalised in January.
Photo: ITFC