Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that Fulham’s 24-hour recall on loan keeper David Stockdale doesn’t just apply if first choice Mark Schwarzer is injured but also if the Australian suffers a loss of form. Over the weekend there were fears that Schwarzer, who worked with Jewell at Bradford early in his career, might face a spell out due to a back problem but those concerns ultimately proved unfounded.
The Blues manager says Town unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate a clause which could only be invoked due to injuries when the 25-year-old signed in July: "We tried to get it so it was injury only but it’s not. They can recall David any time they want, which is not ideal but it was the only way they would let him go. We’ve taken a calculated risk.
"Loss or form or anything they can recall him. We did try to put a clause in that he would only go if they had no other goalkeepers fit but they just weren’t having it.”
However,Cottagers boss Martin Jol has told Stockdale, who is set to line-up for the Blues at West Ham tonight, that he won’t bring him back in a situation in which Schwarzer was out injured for merely a couple of weeks, although Jewell is sceptical: "David has said to me that he has spoken to the manager and he assures me that he wouldn’t do that but I’ve assured David that he would, as any manager would.”
Having recently had West Ham’s Czech U21 international Marek Stech on trial, but not looking to take his interest any further at present, Jewell says other potential replacements for Stockdale both in the short and longer term are being eyed: "We’re watching lots of goalkeepers and we’re trying to line up a keeper for next season because I know that Fulham won’t sell David Stockdale.
"We’re trying to line up a young one who will hopefully take us forward in the next few years."