Recalled Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski is convinced he will not be ‘ring rusty’ when he makes a rare first team appearance against Portsmouth in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie at Portman Road.
Bialkowski, who will replace current first choice Dean Gerken, said: "It has been a long time, three or four months, but I have been training well and I am ready for it.
"Fair play to Deano, he has been absolutely amazing so far this season and that makes it even harder for me.
"I have accepted the situation and I am doing whatever I can to get back into the team. Deano is in fantastic form and all I can do is support him, be there for him and make sure I am ready whenever my chance comes.
"Training is not the same as games — things like decision-making, you can only get that when you are playing — but I have been training hard to make sure I was ready when my chance came and I hope to show that on Saturday.”
Despite his frustration at being on the bench throughout the last four months, however, Bialkowski has no gripe with manager Mick McCarthy — nor has he even considered asking for transfer in order to make a fresh start elsewhere.
He added: "The manager has been very honest with me and that’s all I can ask of him. There is nothing worse than when a manager is telling you one thing and he is doing the very opposite. At least Mick McCarthy is honest and that’s good of him.
"There is only one place in the team for a goalkeeper and everyone knows that. I will just keep working hard in training and continue to support Dean. I do whatever I can, not only to improve myself but to make Dean a better keeper too.”
Asked if he had thought of moving on, he replied: "No, not at all. It has only been a few months that I haven’t been playing but I am loving life in Ipswich and I am really happy here.
"In football you never know what is round the corner. You just have to wait for your chance, be ready for it and if you do well you might stay in the team, simple as that.”