x

McCarthy: No Doubt Bart Deserves Poland Call - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy says keeper Bartosz Bialkowski has had a smile on his face from ear to ear since learning of his first ever call into the Polish national squad, news which was confirmed this morning.

McCarthy says he remembers receiving his first call from the Republic of Ireland and what it meant to him.

"It’s a long time ago, but I do remember it. Eoin Hand ringing me at Manchester City and telling me I was going to be called up and how thrilled I was,” he recalled.

"It was great news and I loved it and Bart’s had a smile on his face from ear to ear since yesterday.

"I got the call from his coach while I was out on the training ground, I was watching training yesterday and I was delighted for him.

"Who knows? He’s got a bit of momentum. Now he’s got in the squad, maybe he’ll travel to the World Cup, I sincerely hope he does. And when he’s there, he might play.”

McCarthy says the 30-year-old’s call-up is fully warranted: "He deserves it from the performances he’s produced here, without a doubt.

"I don’t know what the Polish keepers are, they might be somebody saying that they deserve it.

"But if you’re judging on what we’ve seen of him here, he’s been head and shoulders one of the best keepers in the league for the last two seasons. He does deserve his call-up.”

McCarthy says Bialkowski has progressed over the last couple of seasons having become the firm first choice ahead of Dean Gerken.

"I think it’s quite obvious the fact that he’s been playing all the time, that’s how much he’s come on,” McCarthy continued.

It's been long overdue, but Bartosz Bialkowski has been called up to the Poland squad 👏🇵🇱

Here's why... 👇 #itfc pic.twitter.com/fcRQMPNHET– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) March 9, 2018

"It got to a stage where if Bart was playing or Gerks was playing, if they played and they got in the team they stayed in the team and the other one would play in the cup games.

"And it always took one of them to get injured or something to happen for the other one to get in the team.

"I guess thankfully for Bart he’s maintained his fitness, nothing’s happened to him. He had a bereavement when he came of the team one time.

"And he’s just stayed there despite Gerks whenever he’s come in, he’s played in the cup games or any time he’s had to play, he’s been great. But Bart’s been exceptional.”

Even if the former Southampton and Notts County man doesn’t make the cut for Russia in the summer, he will still only be 32 when the Euros come around in two years’ time and he could have a chance of being involved then.

"Yes, he has, that’s a bonus for him,” the Blues boss added. "You look at him, he’s really slim and slender and athletic, he’ll probably play until he’s 40, Bart.

"But I’m sure he’d like to get in this one, a World Cup in Russia. And if he’s in this one, once you get in the squads, sometimes it’s almost difficult to get out of it, you’ve got to do a lot wrong once you’ve been in and you’ve travelled, other people beneath you have got a lot to do to knock you out of the squad.”

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Six Released as Town Women Announce Retained List
Ipswich Town Women have announced their retained list following the 2024/25 season in which they won the FAWNL Southern Premier League title and promotion to the second tier, now known as the WSL2, for the first time with six senior players released.
Ex-Town Loanee Andrews Now Strong Favourite For Brentford Job
Former Blues loanee Keith Andrews is now an odds-on favourite with all bookies offering prices on the Brentford job, Town boss Kieran McKenna having drifted out overnight.
Hutchinson Focused on Euros
Blues forward Omari Hutchinson insists his focus is on winning the European Championship with England’s U21s rather than his future at club level.
McKenna Some Bookies' Favourite For Brentford Job
Town boss Kieran McKenna is some bookies’ early favourite for the vacant Brentford job following confirmation that Thomas Frank has taken charge at Tottenham Hotspur, but with little real clarity on who the Bees’ next head coach might be.
Hutchinson's England U21s Win Euros Opener
Blues forward Omari Hutchinson helped England’s U21s to a 3-1 victory over Czechia in their opening group game at the European Championship in Slovakia.
Valencia Linked With Burgess
La Liga Valencia are showing interest in Town centre-half Cameron Burgess, according to Spanish reports.
Hutchinson's England U21s' Euros Campaign Starts Against Czechs
Town forward Omari Hutchinson and his England U21s teammates get their European Championship campaign under way when they face Czechia in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia this evening (KO 8pm, Channel 4).
TWTD Questionnaire 2024/25
There’s still time for you to fill in the annual TWTD Questionnaire, your chance to look back in judgement on Town's 2024/25 season
Town Fans Take Total Raised For Food Bank to £20,000
Town supporters donated more than £6,000 to Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks in 2024/25, taking the overall total raised since the group began their monthly matchday collections in January 2023 to £20,000.