Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski has been named in a provisional 35-man Poland squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Manager Adam Nawalka will reduce the party down to the final 23 on June 4th at a training camp in Arlamow.

Bialkowski won his first full Poland cap in the 1-0 friendly defeat at home to Nigeria in March.

The 30-year-old, Town's first-ever Polish international, is one of four keepers in the squad along with Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea), Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus) and Lukasz Skorupski (Roma).

While two of Nawalka’s World Cup keepers look nailed-on certainties - Szczesny and Fabianski - the third space in the squad travelling to Russia is more open with Skorupski having been out of his club side this season.

The Poles have been drawn in World Cup Group H along with Senegal, Colombia and Japan.

Prior to the finals they play Chile in a friendly in Poznań on June 8th and Lithuania in Warsaw on June 12th.

Bialkowski, who has added the Junior Blues Player of the Year award to his numerous other end-of-season gongs, is still to sign the new contract which former manager Mick McCarthy said had been agreed in January but a one-year extension to his current deal, which was up this summer, has been triggered.

Photo: TWTD

BlueBlood90 added 11:36 - May 11 Great stuff. It's likely to be a straight pick between him and Skorupski for the 3rd spot as the other two are very established goalkeepers. I really hope he gets picked as no one deserves it more. Good luck Bart!
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nineteenseventyeight added 11:45 - May 11 ITFC proud
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BrettenhamBlue added 11:56 - May 11 Good on Bart. Well done! Sad to see Piotr Malarcyk still hasn't found a club for over a year now.
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IpswichToon added 12:01 - May 11 Szczesny and Skorupski are number 2's, so they're getting any real game time. Fabianski is the only other primary keeper right now, who is in no particular great form playing for Swansea who are about to drop out of the Premier League. If you ask me, it's looking good for Bialkowski. You can't say any of the other three have had a good season because two haven't been playing, and the other has got relegated!

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rfretwell added 12:01 - May 11 Hope you're in the final 23 Bart. All digits crossed.
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shefkuqi32 added 12:09 - May 11 @PJewellisaGod Fear not. Piotr joined KS Cracovia from Town and now plays for Korona Kielce in the Polish Premier League.
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12th_Man added 12:19 - May 11 Well done Bart
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Bad_Boy_Mark added 12:32 - May 11 Brilliant news and congratulations Bart! You're a Town legend!
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Charlie_pl_baxter added 12:38 - May 11 Congrats Bart, only negative is if he plays well at the World Cup can we hold on to him?
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SamWhiteUK added 12:44 - May 11 Well done. So happy for him, completely deserved! Named in WhoScored team of the season too
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Taricco_Fan added 13:21 - May 11 Very pleased for Bart. Let's hope he makes the cut.
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loyal_Blue added 13:57 - May 11 Deserves it! Best goalkeeper in the championship
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Monkey_Blue added 15:11 - May 11 I'd love to see him go but I also find it hard to believe he's not better than the other two.
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MattinLondon added 15:57 - May 11 Great keeper and I hope he goes to the World Cup Is it true that Bart isn't held in high regard by polish fans? I find this hard to believe but pretty sure posted that here - or possibly the forum.
1

cat added 16:39 - May 11 With the ‘Bartmans' inclusion in the recent Polish squad, this is prove this can be achieved whilst on our books. With the fact he's (by all accounts) happy in Ipswich I'd say there's a slim to reasonable chance he might remain, unless a stupid offer comes in, then it's obviously fair play to the man and the best of British.
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Cheshire_Blue added 16:59 - May 11 I am sure he has the sense to hold off signing any new contract until he knows who the new manager is.Probably would have signed already if Mick was still in charge. Could be the first of many who will want away.
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SonOfSpock added 17:03 - May 11 Congratulations, much deserved. Has been a model Pro for us.
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TractorBeezer added 17:41 - May 11 Well done Bart and well deserved. You have certainly had lots of action this year so definitely not rusty!
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ChrisFelix added 08:56 - May 12 Rated high at Ipswich but surprisingly not elsewhere. Best goal keeper in the championship yet the ex budgie at wolves won the award
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Wrightie added 12:51 - May 12 This video shows why we need to keep hold of him.
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Seasider added 19:38 - May 12 Thanks Wrightie,watching that 12 minutes of wonderful saves shows why he has won the Supporters Player of the Year for 3 consecutive seasons,plus other awards;and why he is now in the Poland squad for the World Cup. Pleased also that Ipswich have triggered the additional year.Lets hope that Marcus now recognising that we have an International Keeper between the sticks , improves the offer on the table,instead of trousering the millions that should be offered for him should he shine in the forthcoming tournament. I hope he does;for it would be selfish of us to expect him not to go to Russia,not to play there,or fail if he does,in the hope that we can hang onto one of the best,if not the best I have seen at Portman Rd in 55 years. Hopefully if he does stay he will have less to do than he has in the preceding 3 years ?

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Radlett_blue added 10:15 - May 14 Sadly, Bart has probably played his last game for Town but I hope he makes the World Cup & good luck to him for the rest of his career.
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