x

German Keeper on Trial With Town - Ipswich Town News

German goalkeeper Jonas Sela has returned to Town for a second trial more than two years after his previous spell at the club. The 26-year-old, who was last here in October 2007, has been back with the Blues since last week after Town asked his club SpVgg Weiden if they could take another look at him.

Sela is currently the second choice keeper at Weiden, having lost his place earlier in the season after a run in which he conceded 16 goals in four games for the Regionalliga Süd (fourth tier of German football) side.

The 6ft 2½in tall keeper played youth football with FC Köln, TV Herkenrath, SSG Bergisch Gladbach and RS 19 Waldbröl before joining Arminia Bielefeld in 2003, where he played for their reserves.

A year later the Bensburg-born stopper moved to Fortuna Köln and in the summer of 2005 he switched to Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05, where he spent two seasons but made only one seven-minute substitute appearance in the German top flight.

After his unsuccessful trial with the Blues in 2007, Sela spent a similar spell at Brighton but eventually joined Dutch Eerste Divisie (second tier) club MVV Maastricht, before moving on to SpVgg Bayreuth in the Oberliga Bayern (German fifth tier) and then his current club.

Back in 2007, Sela was recommended by former England striker Tony Woodcock, who is now an agent in Germany and who previously represented former Blue Danny Sonner.

Town boss Roy Keane has said on a number of occasions that he likes to have three goalkeepers in his squad and, with Richard Wright out for most of the season with his knee ligament injury, is likely to be looking at cover for Arran Lee-Barrett and Brian Murphy. The Irishman’s ankle problem is not expected to keep him out for too much longer.

In December, former Austrian U21 international keeper Michael Langer, who currently plays in Germany with SC Freiburg, spent time on trial with the Blues but failed to win a contract.

What to read next:

[Podcast] Life's a Pitch TV - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Life's a Pitch TV team is now available.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
McKenna: A Different Blackburn Team to the One We Faced Two Years Ago
Town travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday aiming to record back-to-back wins for the first time since the end of their 2023/24 Championship promotion season.
McKenna: Matusiwa Making Really Positive Steps
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says summer signing Azor Matusiwa has made positive steps in his first five games in the Championship with Town now very strong in their midfield department.
McKenna: New Leadership Group Finalised
Blues manager Kieran McKenna says a new leadership group has been finalised with the players assembled over the summer getting to know one another better having taken part in some team bonding last weekend.
McKenna: Blades Win a Good Way to Start the Next Chapter
Town boss Kieran McKenna says last week’s 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United gave everyone a boost but that the players were in a positive mindset and looking forward to the season ahead even prior to the victory over the Blades.
McKenna: Burns Making Progress, Everyone Else Has Trained
Town boss Kieran McKenna says Wes Burns is making good progress as he continues his recovery from his ACL injury with the Wales international the only player absent from training this week ahead of Saturday’s game at Blackburn Rovers.
New Call Me Ted Poster For Norwich Derby
Town poster gurus Call Me Ted have produced a new design ahead of the East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Portman Road on Sunday 5th October.
U17s Beaten By Hammers
Town’s youngsters were beaten 4-0 by West Ham United in their opening U17 Premier League Cup game at Playford Road this afternoon.
[Podcast] The Naked Football Show - Listen Again
This week's Naked Football Show is now available online.