Blues boss Paul Jewell says David Stockdale’s call into the England squad for Wednesday's friendly with Holland at Wembley is well deserved, even if he’d rather the 25-year-old wasn’t spending time away from Portman Road. The on-loan Fulham man is one of only two senior goalkeepers at the club with Márton Fülöp joining West Brom on a free transfer at the weekend.
The Town manager has been very impressed with Stockdale since he signed on a season-long loan: "Even in the pre-season games he had that air of authority about him. He’s got good distribution, kicks the ball really well and he’s made some terrific saves.
"It’s well deserved, I’d prefer for him not to have been called up from a personal point of view, but he couldn’t have played for us tomorrow anyway, so as long as he comes back injury free, and just as important as that the Fulham goalkeeper stays injury free, that’s fine.
"That’s obviously a cause of concern for us, but we knew it was a risk but we thought it was one which was worth taking.”
Jewell says Fülöp leaving for no fee was a matter of freeing up wages with last summer’s £750,000 signing from Sunderand one of the club’s top earners: "His contract was running out and we would have liked a fee but he was on decent wages, so we can’t have our cake and eat it.
"He was an expensive number two for us at the moment, so it was a deal we thought was worth doing, and Márton wanted to go.
"It was an opportunity for him to go to the Premier League and we understand that. And I have to say that since Stocky’s been here, his professionalism has been exemplary.”
Arran Lee-Barrett will start against Northampton with US U20 international Cody Cropper on the bench for the first time. Jewell has confirmed that he will be looking for another keeper as cover for Stockdale.