Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski has revealed how a chat with boss Mick McCarthy confirmed he was making progress even if he wasn’t first choice.
Bialkowski, who will make it three league games in a row when he again deputises for the injured Dean Gerken against Watford on Saturday, said: "I spoke to the gaffer about a month ago when he said he was really impressed with me and that he was going to give me a chance.
"I was training really hard and I was ready for my chance whenever it came. You have to be ready because you never know what is round the corner. Injuries are a part of football and you have to make sure you are ready to step in.
"I have been patient and working really hard in training so when my chance came I was very pleased. When you are not in the team the only way you can catch the manager’s eye is on training.
"The gaffer makes it clear to us that if you are not going to train well you are not going to play.
"Everyone wants to play and I’m no different. I was putting in a lot of hours with Malcolm [Webster, goalkeeping coach] in the training sessions and I was ready to go. Dean is a great keeper and he has had a fantastic season so far.
"He’s been on top of his form so all I could do was to train well and make sure I kept him on his toes.
"I have another game against Watford on Saturday and I can only do my best then hope it is good enough to keep my place when Dean is fit again. My aim will be to play as well as I can to give the manager another option.”
Town have the Championship’s best defensive home record and Bialkowski paid tribute to the defenders in front of him when he added: "We are such a strong and solid team. With Jonny Parr, Luke Chambers, Christophe Berra, Tommy Smith and Tyrone Mings we must have one of the best, if not the very best, defensive line-ups in the league.
"And I would also like to mention Michael Crowe because he has been doing really well in training. He is a young lad and he is improving every week. He is going to be a top keeper, no doubt about it.”