Town boss Mick McCarthy is set to continue his policy of sticking by the keeper in possession of the shirt when Dean Gerken returns from injury with Bartosz Bialkowski having been outstanding in his absence.

Gerken, the Blues' number one for most of the season, is expected to be fit ahead of next Tuesday’s game at home to Hull City, having missed the last three matches with a shoulder injury sustained in the closing minutes at Birmingham.

Having been Town's man of the match in the 1-0 loss at QPR a week previously, Bialkowski was again the Blues' outstanding performer during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bristol City, making one save which drew comparisons with the famous Gordon Banks stop from Pele during the 1970 World Cup, with manager Mick McCarthy hailing his performance “magnificent”.

“I’m sort of revisiting a story from the last time when Gerks got in and Bart had been brilliant,” McCarthy said. “It was very sad that he lost his place after the sad loss of his father.

“They’ve both given up that position through really difficult times. Gerks when he’s been carried off and his wife had just given birth and watched it on television. They’ve had tough times between them.

“But what they’ve always done is supported each other. And if one comes in and plays well then, as has been proven, I’ve left them in the team.”

Last week, Bialkowski revealed that he was close to agreeing new terms with Town - having received interest from elsewhere including China - and McCarthy says he’s very keen to keep the former Southampton and Notts County man at Portman Road.

1970 or 2016? @thegordonbanks or @Official_ITFC's @1BartMan1?

Watch all the @Football_League action from 9pm. https://t.co/QAEtOt4xem– Football On 5 (@FootballOn5) February 13, 2016

“Talks are under way, so it’s quite clear that I myself, the club and [owner] Marcus [Evans], we want to tie him down to a longer deal,” he added. “We’re very lucky, I’ve got two really good goalkeepers.”

Meanwhile, 20-year-old keeper Michael Crowe was in action for his loan club Braintree last night as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Boreham Wood.

Crowe, who rejoined the Iron for a second month at the end of last week, has now made six appearances for the Vanarama National League club, keeping three clean sheets.

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 14:01 - Feb 17 bueherts agree.Last Saturday if we had defender stationed on goal line,as Mick Mills used to,and Alan Curbishley said we should;then both Bc's goals would have been cleared.This is what amazes me about our Manager.When this was mentioned after match he said he had never put defenders on goaline to defend post.He had got 2 teams up playing that way;and wasn't going to change.WHY for goodness sake.This man is too stubborn for his own good. Wonder what would happen if players stood on goalline regularly (As Pitts did later),how would Mick react? Re Bart.Of course he should be kept in which should also have happened to likes of Oar and Parr.This situation should now make Bart's contract talks easier;because had he been dropped,then quite rightly would probably have sought pastures new. I think he has the potential to a top keeper

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Seasider added 14:12 - Feb 17 Think however that this is the only position,at the moment,where there is a genuine competition for places,which is a shame as players who play for Mick are either first teamers or reserves in his eyes as never changes back four.Skues and Dougas shoo ins for midfield and it is only up front where changes are occasionally made,often putting Freddie Sears out on wing,(Another square peg in round hole.)

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rkl added 14:50 - Feb 17 Good thing Bart is still here. Other goalkeepers may very well have left the club after such a treatment.
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TimmyH added 16:42 - Feb 17 Is the better of the 2 goalkeepers and it's taken this season for him to find out...but it doesn't make that much difference if your defense isn't helping. We could have De Gea in and still leak goals, other than maybe Smith the defense is worse than last season.
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jas0999 added 17:29 - Feb 17 Quite right too.
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BanksterDebtSlave added 18:12 - Feb 17 Come on then, hands up the McCarthy haters who said the 'hoof ball dinosaur' would get his favourite back in goal....or have you moved on to being right about something else now?
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SuperTommySmith added 19:21 - Feb 17 Very surprised by this. When Gerk came into the side it was 10-15 games before he started playing decently. Mick has claimed he was only responsible for 1 goal, but there were many more and Gerks kept his place. Don't get me wrong Gerken was playing very well before he got injured, but just a surprise he hasn't come back in with Mick's history.
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Pilgrimblue added 19:32 - Feb 17 Foe mw itas cery sad that MM has only given Bart his place back because of Gerks injury. Bart is the best and while Gerks has done ok MM must pick his best every time. Sadly that doesnt apply to RB, he has 3 CBs but cant drop one but in all honesty none of them ar ethat good as Bristol found out! Although very unlikely, Foley should be RB Chambers centre right and either Smith or Berra at right side, simple

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runningout added 20:20 - Feb 17 Was brilliant v Bristol.. Hope he isn't too busy for rest of season
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MicksZzzTactics added 21:31 - Feb 17 Bart rules!!!
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MicksZzzTactics added 21:32 - Feb 17 Bart rules!!!
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Kropotkin123 added 23:37 - Feb 17 Arnie, I don't assume he was picking Gerken as a favourite or as a mate. That is your assumption, which is utter tripe. I think he was too stubborn, getting in arguments with fans at the time, over the quality difference over the two keepers. He either doesn't have the judgement or doesn't have the courage to see and act on clear differences between the two. Furthermore, it is a bit high and mighty of you to be calling people out when you were posting similar views, if I recall correctly, as the initial time of Gerken's inclusion as a regular starter

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Surco72 added 10:27 - Feb 18 I personally think the saddest thing about this whole situation is that again unless of an injury a better player would still be on the bench . It was only injury that changed the dire Skuse / Hyam partnership and it will only be injury that changes our back four who repeatedly make the same mistakes , are not in natural positions and do not seem to be getting better the longer they play together which was MM 's philosophy for never changing players even if they had bad games . But realistically now with Parr leaving who could we bring into the back four ?

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Daz added 14:56 - Feb 18 you really think Mick could have put gerk bk in. i think he would if he could have, done it before i think. I hope Micks way works with paying higher wages to get and keep players. What will happen when the money run out from the sale of cressy and mings to cover these wages. wages will drop? players leave? have to sell players again? can't see it long term.
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blueboy1981 added 17:20 - Feb 20 Will certainly feel more confident with Bart in goal against Hull - been said many times before, but this is a game that we must have 3 points from, having again today dropped nearer the mid table mediocrity level. No doubt 'boring billy' will set out for, and be well happy with - a single point, yet again. Hull could seriously highlight our square peg / round hole back line scenario - let's just hope otherwise, shall we .... ??

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