Town goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski will return to first team action for the first time since September in this weekend’s FA Cup third round tie at home to Portsmouth.
"I guess I’m playing,” laughed the giant Pole at a press conference on Thursday. "To be honest I didn’t know for sure — no one has told me yet — but if I’m here I suppose I must be playing and I am really looking forward to Saturday.
"It has been a difficult and frustrating time for me so I will be happy to be playing again.”
Bialkowski started the current campaign as boss Mick McCarthy’s first-choice last line of defence and appeared in the opening day 2-2 draw at Brentford as well as the subsequent home wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley, two sides now competing alongside Town for coveted play-off places.
It was only as a result of tragic circumstances, the death of his father, that he lost his first team place, with McCarthy granting him compassionate leave so that he could return home to be with his family.
Bialkowski said: "I lost my Dad and then I was in Poland for a couple of weeks. It was really tough when I lost him because he was such a big part of my life and football career. He was my hero and I still get a bit emotional when I am talking about him.
"Dean took my place and he has been in absolutely fantastic form since coming back into the team.
"That’s football and there’s nothing I can do about it. Of course it is frustrating but I have been training hard every day because in football you just never know when your time is going to come. All you can do is keep fit and continue to do what you are doing.”
Bialkowski did get the nod to play in the 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat by Manchester United in September but that proved to be a one-off and since then he has had to play second fiddle to Gerken, who has grasped his opportunity to stay in the starting line-up.
Asked if he felt he should have been restored to the first team following his return to the club, Bialkowski added: "No, because there was a similar situation last season when Dean was in the team, got injured and was ruled out for three games. But I kept my place and that was it.
"Now Dean is in the team and playing really well so he has kept his place. There is nothing I can do about it because it is the manager’s decision.
"I accept that but at the same time I obviously wasn’t happy about it. All I can do is to keep training well and keep supporting Dean because he’s my really good mate.
"We are training every day with each other and we are very close. Last season he was always there for me, supporting me and now I am doing exactly the same for him. I truly like him, he’s a really good guy and there in no animosity between us.”