Town keeper Bartosz Bialkowski has been confirmed in the Poland squad for this summer’s World Cup in Russia. The 30-year-old will be one of two Blues players at the finals, left-back Jonas Knudsen having been named in the Danish travelling party yesterday.

Bialkowski will be the third-choice keeper in the 23-man party behind Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea) and Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus).

Roma's Lukasz Skorupski, 27, was the fourth keeper in the 27-man larger squad which trained in Arlamowa last week but picked up a hip injury which although not a serious problem was adjudged to be enough to rule him out of the finals.

Bialkowski, whose last words to his late father were a promise to get a Poland call-up, became Town's first-ever Polish international when he made his debut and currently only international appearance in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Nigeria in March.

“It was my biggest dream come true,” he said after that match. “Now, I need to do everything to stay in the team as long as possible.”

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

Prior to travelling to the finals they play Chile in a friendly in Poznań on Friday and Lithuania in Warsaw a week on Tuesday.

Bialkowski, Town's Player of the Year for the third season running in 2017/18, 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.

Nine Blues players have previously won caps at a World Cup finals. John Wark and Alan Brazil represented Scotland in 1982 when Mick Mills was England’s captain with Paul Mariner and Terry Butcher also in Ron Greenwood’s side.

Bontcho Guentchev featured for Bulgaria in 1994, Matt Holland was in Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland team in 2002, Slovenian defender Amir Karic was still a Town player at the same tournament - the last time two Blues were at the same finals - and most recently Tommy Smith played for New Zealand in 2010.

George Burley was in the Scotland squad in 1982 but didn't play, while John Elsworthy was named in the Wales 22 for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden but the FAW couldn't afford to send a full squad and the left-half remained at home.

All the squads for the finals have now been confirmed and can be found here. Bialkowski will wear Poland's number 12 shirt and Knudsen is Denmark's five.

Photo: TWTD

yun added 13:10 - Jun 4 Fantastic news and richly deserved.
8

SWGF added 13:11 - Jun 4 Bloody fantastic
8

TractorCam added 13:11 - Jun 4 Congratulations and well deserved!
8

BlueBlood90 added 13:13 - Jun 4 Fantastic news and very well deserved. Just hope that we haven't seen the last of him in a Town shirt.
7

mathiemagic added 13:14 - Jun 4 Fantastic news for Bart but the selfish in me hopes he wont get a game as then the world will see how good he is !!!
5

Paddy39 added 13:18 - Jun 4 Hope you have a fantastic time Bart. Good luck mate.
4

clint_eastwood added 13:26 - Jun 4 Should and deservedly number one instead of Fabianski and Szczesny.
4

dannysigma added 13:28 - Jun 4 Fantastic news - well done Bart.
3

HALLSJ added 13:30 - Jun 4 Outstanding season, totally deserves this recognition
1

christiand added 13:33 - Jun 4 Terrific news and thoroughly well deserved. Enjoy the experience Bart!
1

runningout added 13:42 - Jun 4 Didn't doubt it. Best Keeper they have.
0

PortmanTerrorist added 13:44 - Jun 4 First name (OK alphabetical) on the sheet as usual. Go Bart, congratulations, well deserved....but please come back too !
2

Fatboy added 13:54 - Jun 4 Richly deserved - your dad would be proud of you, Bartosz.
1

RobbieBobson added 13:56 - Jun 4 Should add a few more ££ to the transfer fee :-(
1

goat_man added 14:05 - Jun 4 Surprised that it even came down to a choice. He's the best goalkeeper they have!
1

cornishblu added 14:11 - Jun 4 Just great to read so much positive news coming out of the club at the moment .....remain slightly nervous that he hasn't signed his contract yet but let's hope this call up demonstrates what the town have done for him and he repays that progress with loyalty COYB
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:14 - Jun 4 Great. Don't we get dosh for the call up? What do we get if he doesn't get on? Purely selfish as it would be great for him to play but would rather he wasn't overly in the shop window, unless he's already decided to move in which case golden gloves to hype the fee please! In all seriousness best of luck Bart..think you are better than Flappyhandski personally...

0

brian_a_mul added 14:17 - Jun 4 Congrats Bart, ill be supporting The Poles as wellThe Danes for my teams to follow at WC. Gives the tournament more interest now , if you are irish and support ITFC that is !
1

TheTrueBlue1878 added 14:21 - Jun 4 Nobody at the World Cup who deserves it more, the level of performance over the last three lars sons have been nothing short of sensational. Along with the relationship with his father. Absolutely chuffed for the man.
2

Crock added 14:29 - Jun 4 Have a nice holiday in Russia Bartosz
0

TB42 added 14:41 - Jun 4 Excellent news, congratulations Bart :) !!!! Also, hopefully one piece of news that will actually be 100% welcomed by all subscribers to this forum so a double bonus!!!!
1

TAYSANBOY added 14:50 - Jun 4 Good news so long as he dosn,t get injured we need him fit for next season
0

DebsyAngel added 14:58 - Jun 4 Well done Bart! Hope you get a few games and that you will still be our player come the new season!
1

afcfee added 15:00 - Jun 4 Yer deserves to go but wouldn't say he is better than Szczęsny
0

Southamptonblue added 15:02 - Jun 4 Well done Bart! Incidentally, if Poland get through the group they will meet someone from England's group in the second round.
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