New keeper Bartosz Bialkowski is aiming to be Town’s number one having signed a two-year deal with an option for a further season earlier today, the Blues and Notts County having agreed an undisclosed fee likely to be in the low hundred thousands.

“I’m no different to any player. I want to play games,” the former Poland U20 international told Ipswich Player.

“I know it won’t be easy but I will be training as hard as I can and pushing as hard as I can to be the number one here.”

The former Southampton man confirmed that, as TWTD reported at the time, Town showed interest in him a year ago: “I’m really happy to be an Ipswich Town player.

“It’s been going on for a while and when that happens, you can get worried sometimes but I was always confident it would get done.

“I worked with Malcolm [Webster, Town’s keeper-coach] at Southampton and Hearts [where he spent time on trial in 2005] and it’s great to be back working with him again. He’s a great guy and probably the best coach I have worked with.

“He rang me a year ago and said Ipswich were watching me and would keep an eye on me through the season.

“I watched their results as well and then Malcolm rang me just before the end of last season and said Ipswich were interested. As soon as I heard they definitely wanted me, my mind was made up straight away.”

Bialkowski previously spent a short spell on loan with Town in 2009 from Southampton without making a first-team appearance. He was red-carded during his reserves debut in a game at Luton when he handled the ball outside the area with the Hatters bearing down on goal. The 6ft 4in tall Braniewo-born keeper started his career in his home country with Olimpia ElblÄ…g and Górnik Zabrze before moving to Southampton, where he worked with Webster and ex-Blues boss George Burley, in January 2006.

Bialkowski is likely to have some involvement in Wednesday’s friendly against West Ham at Portman Road (KO 7.45pm). Manager Mick McCarthy may opt to play a different side in each half as he did at Shelbourne on Saturday.

Photos/YouTube clip: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

SuffolkBlue88 added 09:10 - Jul 16 Just adding to a few of the comments re McGoldrick, I don't think we can realistically expect him to be ready for the start of the season. He may have come back from injury for the start, but I imagine he would still miss the all important preseason - which really determines if he will hit the ground running. Look at Taylor for instance, come back to preseason flying, I have no doubt he'll make a massive impact at the start of the season, but in my view we can't expect this from McGoldrick when he's missing all preseason and just come back from a long term injury

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