Manager Mick McCarthy says it’s vital that Town have a settled number one of their own next season, Stephen Henderson having become the latest in a line of loan keepers recalled by their parent clubs when he went back to West Ham last week.

McCarthy is keen that Town should have an established number one that they own rather than loan for 2013/14: “It’s vital in my view. I was trying to sign another keeper in the window, so he was our keeper and let them all fight for the number one spot.

“I was fortunate that West Ham let Hendo come back, although actually Loachy was so unlucky. He played well against Cardiff, kept a second clean sheet against Middlesbrough and then he hurt his thumb and couldn’t play.

“Hendo came back and we’ve had six clean sheets in nine games or something, so it was unfortunate for Loachy. I’ve no worries about playing him again because he was terrific when he got in the first time.”

The former Watford man will be back in the side against Leeds tomorrow with Arran Lee-Barrett on the bench and new signing Jason Brown the third choice.

McCarthy will also welcome Anthony Wordsworth back into the squad, the midfielder having made a swift recovery from the three cracked vertebrae he suffered against Blackpool in February.

“He’s looked great,” the Blues boss said. “He’s a really good footballer. The ball certainly doesn’t embarrass him, he’s comfortable with that. It was nice to see him out there [on the training field].”

Guirane N’Daw is also back having missed the Bolton game due to his assault arrest and McCarthy says he has trained as usual: “Football is the best thing of all for footballers.

“If you look back at all footballers who have had whatever problems, supposedly, the best times were when they were on that pitch, and it’s no different for him.”

The Town manager was pleased to see Tommy Smith return from international duty with New Zealand early, having scored a late winner to confirm the All Whites’ progress through to the next stage of World Cup qualification: “It was good timing for Tommy to score the winner in the 94th minute as otherwise he wouldn’t be here yet!

“If they hadn’t won, apparently they were staying. [New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert] said that if they won and they’d qualified they could come back. Common sense, it’s not very common, but it’s nice when it’s there.”

Overall, he believes the Town squad’s work and rest periods during the international break will see them in good stead for the Easter fixtures: “They had their few days off, then came back in on Monday and Tuesday, had the day off yesterday and the training has been good.

"If we can take that level into the games on Saturday and Monday we’ll be fine.”

Photo: Action Images

BrettenhamBlue added 07:38 - Mar 29 Sounds like Loach will be number 1 at least till the end of the season. Brown will make good back-up.
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ericgates added 07:52 - Mar 29 I wonder if Mick was more interested in signing Kello before signing Brown, because he mentioned that he had joined Wolves yesterday in his press conference. I know Mick has his finger on the pulse, it just seems he was very aware of that particular piece of transfer business. I can see us making a decent cash offer for Henderson in the summer, if West Ham stay up.
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wkj added 09:54 - Mar 29 I want Scott to flourish. He has an amazing attitude and I think needs some confidence and just a little more situational awareness; though I do think it's time to let ALB go; not because I dislike him; I feel he is wasted as a bench warmer and could do a great job in L1
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jas0999 added 15:03 - Mar 29 Loach now has an excellent opportunity to make himself the No. 1. Brown and ALB are out of contract in the Summer and will probably leave, with MM signing another keeper. I wish Loach well, but still think he is average.
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