x

McCarthy: Gerks Has Been Outstanding - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy has hailed keeper Dean Gerken’s recent outstanding form, having kept faith with the 30-year-old despite criticism from some sections of the Blues’ support earlier in the campaign.

"How pleased am I with him? I keep picking him every week, so that tends to say I’m happy with the goalkeeper,” McCarthy said.

"There was a bit of nonsense going on a while back when we were conceding goals and throwing games and he was getting it in his earhole.

"But he didn’t deserve it because I can honestly say, other than Reading away, the third goal between him and Skusey, [the goals weren’t down to him].

"He wasn’t happy with the goal the other night [at Fulham] from the freekick but it came through the wall and it flew in the bottom corner.

"Other than that he’s been brill, I think he’s been outstanding, he’s just had a great season.

"And what’s really nice is that Bart turns up and trains every day as if he’s training and he keeps him on his toes.

"And it was the same the other way around as well, they’re two really good characters. We’ve good goalkeepers and we should thank Malcolm Webster for that for firstly recommending them and then training with them.

"I kept faith in him because he’s a good keeper and he was playing well. Simple as that.”

Meanwhile, McCarthy says on-loan Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has improved the more he has played and trained with the senior squad since joining for the season in the summer.

"He’s got stronger and stronger, training with the first team all the time, playing the games,” the Town boss added.

"I think he’s coped with it remarkably well. Physically, there’s no problem with him at all, he’s a really good athlete.”

Elsewhere, the Blues manager says he recently saw former Town left-back Tyrone Mings, who is out for the season having suffered a serious knee injury on his Premier League debut for Bournemouth in August, and says he found the 22-year-old in good spirits despite his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

"He’s all right, he’s just in rehab, he has a long time to go yet because he had a bit of a setback with it right at the very start,” McCarthy said.

"He’s just doing his rehab, it was a nasty injury, both his cruciate and his medial, he might have done the lateral as well, I’m not sure.

"He was in good spirits, it was nice to see him. He came to see me and TC and the lads. It was great, we had a chat with him. But he has a long road to recovery, sadly.”

What to read next:

U21s Defeated By Luton
A strong Blues U21s side was beaten 2-1 by Luton Town at Bent Lane in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon with Tommy Taylor's first-half strike cancelled out after the break by a much-improved Hatters side.
U19s Draw and Lose Final Games at Czech Tournament
Town’s U19s finished lost one and drew one of today’s place play-off matches at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia.
Hirst: Early Confrontation Sign of Morsy's High Standards
George Hirst has revealed he almost came to blows with departed captain Sam Morsy early in his Town career, but believes the incident was illustrative of the high standards maintained by the former Blues skipper.
Former Town Defender Ndaba Set For Serie A
Former Town defender Corrie Ndaba is set to join Serie A Lecce from Scottish Premiership Kilmarnock, according to reports in Italy.
McKenna: New Coach Stanislas Comes Highly Recommended
Town manager Kieran McKenna has spoken about the additions of new first-team coach Junior Stanislas and set-piece analyst Michele Aragona.
McKenna: Young Will Bring Experience, Competitiveness and Edge
Blues boss Kieran McKenna says new signing Ashley Young can give the club different things in different areas, among them his experience, competitiveness and his edge.
Hirst: I Thought We Played Really Well, But Aberdeen Gave Us a Massive Challenge
Town striker George Hirst was pleased to add to his pre-season goals tally during the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McKenna: Philogene Very Good Tonight, His Off the Ball Work Was Outstanding
Town manager Kieran McKenna was delighted with Jaden Philogene’s performance in the Blues’ 3-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
McKenna: We Got What We Wanted From the Game
Town boss Kieran McKenna said he got what he wanted from the 3-1 friendly win at Aberdeen and believes his side is in general on the right track.
McKenna: Nothing in the Air Regarding Omari's Situation
Town boss Kieran McKenna says there’s “nothing in the air” regarding Omari Hutchinson’s future with the forward having remained behind in Suffolk to train while the Blues were in Aberdeen for this evening’s 3-1 friendly victory.