Town goalkeeper Dean Gerken is confident the position is in safe hands for many years to come.

At the moment Gerken is the man in possession but not only is Bartosz Bialkowski keen to regain his place, there are several young keepers in line to stake their claim, if not right now then in the years to follow.

Gerken knows he must maintain the sort of performance that earned a clean sheet in Saturday's otherwise disappointing goalless draw with Huddersfield at Portman Road or boss Mick McCarthy will have no hesitation in recalling Bialkowski.

The Pole played his part in Town's unbeaten start to the campaign by appearing in the opening three Championship fixtures but after the death of his father he was granted compassionate leave and since then Gerken has remained first choice with a run of eight successive league outings.

Ex-Colchester and Bristol City keeper Gerken, 30, said: "The goalkeepers always get on. There's only one position to be filled but only one other person knows what you're going through and it's tit for tat.

"If Bart's in the team I'm there for him and when I'm in the team he's there for me. It's not spoken about - we're mates and that's it.”

But the strength of the goalkeeping situation at the club goes beyond Gerken and Bialkowski, with U21 international pair Michael Crowe of Wales and Scotland's Jonathan Henly also highly rated.

Below them you have rising stars like England U17 international Nick Hayes and fellow first-year academy scholar Harry Wright, whose father Richard earned senior England honours in his time with Town.

Gerken added: "Jonathan's trained with us and he's obviously a part of the goalkeeping unit. I've enjoyed working with him. I haven't seen him in games and he's got a back injury at the moment that has kept him out for two or three weeks.

"The scouts at the club are not going to bring someone in unless they think he's good enough. He's a good lad who wants to do well and it's the same with Michael Crowe and the other younger lads. They're a good bunch and I enjoy working with them every day.

"They are all top boys and they all want to work and learn. Mally [Malcolm Webster, goalkeeping coach] is brilliant the way he develops the kids and brings them on.

“His technique in training really is second to none. I learn off the young lads as much as they learn off me and we're a good unit.

"The gaffer lets us do what we do and we always look at situations from games to see if we could have done any better.

“The video analysis these days is pretty in-depth - you can get any picture from any angle all around the stadium. If there is something I can work on and try to do better I'm sure Mally will tell me."

Photo: Action Images

KiwiTractor added 07:07 - Oct 20 Mick still hasn't explained why the incumbent Bart, wasn't given the starting position back. I'm at a loss?
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dude added 07:30 - Oct 20 The future's pants. Skid marks galore.
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Jimmy86 added 08:48 - Oct 20 I'm sure there is something you can do better and that's leave that white, straight thong you're always routed to.... played a bit better against Huddersfield and Birmingham, but Bart is the better keeper
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BlueKush added 09:22 - Oct 20 You're conceding almost 2 goals a game Deano, I wouldn't get too confident. Keep a clean sheet tonight I'll be impressed.
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TR11BLU added 10:11 - Oct 20 Im laughing so much having read your (cod) piece @Jimmy86 Gerken never leaves the straight white thong.....brilliant!
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Bluetone added 10:15 - Oct 20 Gerken and safe hands anyone spot an oxymoron?
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Jimmy86 added 11:06 - Oct 20 TR11BLU was sposed to be thing!! Stupid predictive txt.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:48 - Oct 20 Jimmy86: What have you been up to that your predictive text chooses "thong" before that massively uncommon word "thing"? -:)
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Jimmy86 added 12:59 - Oct 20 Haha I don't know Steve, could have even been fat finger syndrome on the key pad haha.
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jas0999 added 17:43 - Oct 20 Both keepers are very average. Future not looking bright in that position. If anything it's worrying.
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Seasider added 18:10 - Oct 20 Your father dies,and the Manager gives you compassionate leave and takes the opportunity to bring his favorite back.Good at man management eh,wonder what Bart thinks.. If he doesn't bring Toure in then it will be just Knudsen who is the only overseas player I presume,leaving Bru Bart and Jonny Parr on the bench,wonder how they feel too.
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