Town may remain without a win this season but in goalkeeper Dean Gerken’s recent appearances they have banked points in all but one of them.

Gerken was recalled for the East Anglian derby draw with Norwich and held his place for the visit to Hull, which resulted in a 2-0 defeat, before again featuring in last week’s double header at home to Brentford and Bolton as Town made it five successive draws at Portman Road this season.

Gerken, who kept Town’s first clean sheet of the season against the Trotters, said: “It’s been a while but I’m over the moon to be back in the team and helping out. It was a surprise to hear I was playing against Norwich because Bart has been brilliant over the past couple of years.

“But, as I’ve said before, it’s all about keeping yourself prepared and then, if you do get an opportunity, you’ve got to make sure you take it with both hands.

“With regard to remaining ready at all times, just in case, it’s tougher mentally than physically. You’re out there doing a job and it’s about getting the 90 minutes in, and mentally tuning yourself as well.

“I’m just coming up to date with it now in terms of match fitness. You can play in the U23 games but you can’t get total match fitness there. You need to be out on the same pitch, with the crowd etc. I feel I’m getting up to speed and it’s up to me to keep the shirt.”

Asked if he was nervous before facing the Canaries, he replied: “As you get older it’s not a case of not caring any more but you have greater self-belief.

“Also, I’ve come back from a big injury after surgery on my hip and as much as I’ve been feeling fit there’s still that 10 per cent in your head where you’re thinking ‘Am I still going to be as match-ready as I want to be?’

“Thankfully, all the preparation I did over pre-season went well. I came in early with just five or 10 per cent of basic fitness because of the operation, so I had a long way to go before I’d worked myself up to full fitness.

“Usually, you’re coming in off your May and June break and you’ve still got a fitness base that’s quite high, but for me it was pretty much like starting all over again, a bit like a YTS kid.

“I had to retune my body into taking the hard graft of playing 90 minutes and it was a big help that Bart had been away at the World Cup. That gave me a couple of weeks to get a couple of pre-season games in and that was a big help from my point of view.”

Gerken’s contract will expire in the summer and even with the club retaining an option on his services for a further 12 months he admits he is not in a position to take anything for granted with regard to his immediate future.

He said: “The way I see it I’ve a few months left on my contract. Yes, the club still has an option for another year but for me it’s not an option in my favour so I consider I’m in the last year.

“The extra year isn’t a given and that’s the way it is for any player in the same situation.

“Contract up or not up, I just want to play games. The more games you play the longer your shelf life is going to be.

“On a personal level I love doing it here with my mates and I’ve enjoyed my entire time with Ipswich. Fundamentally, I want to be here and play here.

“I don’t want to retire from playing and have regrets. In my head I have a number of games I want to play and if I don’t achieve that I’ll be disappointed with what I’ve achieved.

“That’s always been a target since I was about 24 but I’m not going to tell you what that number is.”

Meanwhile, Gerken, who has clocked up 293 appearances in his career so far, reports that little has changed following goalkeeper-coach Malcolm Webster’s decision to retire at the end of last season, new manager Paul Hurst opting to promote former deputy, Darren Smith, to replace him.

He added: “Mally was Darren’s mentor in readiness for making the step up. When I first came here Smudger was working with the keepers so he knows exactly how we work and the training sessions haven’t changed much since Mally left. We do the same routines that we have done and everything like that.

“It’s a massive opportunity for him to come in and work at this level, and it has been a smooth transition.

"Nothing has changed drastically in terms of that but the fitness stuff has been brought in by Nathan [Winder, fitness coach] and Skitty [physio Chris Skitt], and that can only help us. It’s something that most teams do now, the conditioning etc.

“That’s been brilliant for me personally because of the muscles I’ve had to wake up.

“It’s happening within the training session and I don’t have to do it individually on my own, which can be a slog when you have to spend an hour on your own after training doing it.

“I’m automatically getting the conditioning and it doesn’t just help me. If you ask the other players I’m sure they will say it’s helping them too.”

Photo: TWTD

blueboy1981 added 17:41 - Sep 27 Not your most fervent fan Gerks - but credit where do, you've done your bit impressively thus far - the acid test is for it to continue.
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Northstandveteran added 17:44 - Sep 27 Bart to be sold in the next window then? All part of M.E's plan to bring in some much needed revenue.
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matthewwylds added 17:50 - Sep 27 Yes you can stop a shot but when it comes to crosses and Commanding Your box you come up very short I know who's our best keeper
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DurhamTownFan added 19:45 - Sep 27 He hasn't done too badly, but I can't believe he's still being picked ahead of Bart, who has been our player of the year for three years running and consistently held up as one of the best keepers in the league, AND went to the World Cup! For me, there's no contest
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Dissboyitfc added 08:48 - Sep 28 BART had several games below par and I believe deserved to be dropped. Gerken has come in and done ok. I am not Gerks biggest fan, but he deserves to keep his place! On the evidence of the last few seasons, BART is by far a much better keeper in every way, but on the evidence of the season so far bart has been poor! Competition for places is want you want, I do believe Bart will claim back the keepers shirt. Remember keeping goals out is not the biggest concern, scoring them is a bigger concern.

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