O'Neil: Number One Shirt Up for Grabs
Wednesday, 29th Jul 2026 23:36 by Kallum Brisset

Town manager Gary O’Neil says the number one shirt is up for grabs and confirmed that Christian Walton is currently sidelined with a foot injury.

Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen signed for the Blues on Tuesday and joins compatriot Kayne van Oevelen in bolstering the department during the summer transfer window.

During Town’s pre-season fixtures so far, Van Oevelen and Alex Palmer have shared the minutes with Scherpen not involved in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to CA Osasuna in Colchester.

O’Neil says no decision has been made on who will be the starting goalkeeper against Sunderland on the opening day of the Premier League season, but was pleased to recruit 6ft 9in Scherpen to the club after his arrival from Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

“We’ve not just signed him because he’s tall,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s surprising but he’s good with his feet, he has a good understanding and he can still get better. He was playing in the Champions League last season so he’s had some big experiences and we hope he can help us.

“Christian’s more than capable of playing in the Premier League and Palms has played in the Premier League. The number one shirt doesn’t just get given to somebody, everyone has to earn it.

“But he’s a good addition, we haven’t seen him work up close yet but we’re confident he can help us.”

Town are understood to be considering sending 22-year-old keeper Van Oevelen out on loan, potentially to the Championship, during the summer transfer window, but that move may well be affected depending on the extent of Walton’s injury.

O’Neil said: “There will be some movement, I don’t know where or what it will be yet. Christian being out, how well Palms has done, he was good again tonight and made some good saves and was calm with the ball.

“No real decisions have been made on who’s [number] one, who’s two, who’ll be leaving. I’ve been here three weeks so I'm trying to have a good look at as many as I can.

“We’ll make some good decisions and we’ll make sure the department is in a good spot. Reg [Rene Gilmartin] has been excellent with them on the training ground. That will become clearer over the next few weeks.”

Discussing Walton’s issue, O’Neil added: “He injured his foot so he’s going to be out for a little while, but he’s progressing well. Issa Diop is on a programme that is trying to get his feet, Maeda the same, Scherpen the same.

“We’re going to add more players and we still have three new signings to put into that performance. I’m confident we’re in a good spot, I'm pleased with how the evening went.

“Ready for a big test at the weekend, two 90 minutes with a fairly full squad. There will probably be some young lads around it but a great test for everybody. It helps us get ready for Le Havre and Rayo Vallecano, and then the level starts to go up as we get ready for Sunderland.”

Photo: Matchday Images

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benslifeyt added 23:43 - Jul 29 Thought the keeper tonight at Colchester friendly in second half was excellent. Really positive with his feet found good passes and was confident. Really like him . And being Dutch when they are young they are taught how to play football before picking a position to play which is probably why his passing abilities are quality
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armchaircritic59 added 00:02 - Jul 30

As it should be, no shirts should just be handed out to anybody, they have to be earned. Unless my memory is playing tricks ( not impossible! ), I actually thought AP did pretty well for us in the PL. I'm not saying he's a starter, I am saying he's entitled to be a contender, like the others.

This amused me however " Issa Diop is on a programme that is trying to get his feet " Someone needs to tell Issa they should be at the bottom of his legs :) I know what he means, I think!

Guthrum added 00:15 - Jul 30 armchaircritic59 - My remembrance was also that Palmer was ok in the Prem, calmed things down after the highs and lows of Muric.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:20 - Jul 30 Guthrum, yes, pretty much agree with that. He should be in the mix at least even if he ends up elsewhere.
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Saxonblue74 added 05:57 - Jul 30 Palmer made a pass in the first half that would almost certainly have gifted a goal in the Premier league. Fine margins but can't afford mistakes in the prem, punished every time.
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Theipswich added 06:04 - Jul 30 Walton is the No 1...let's not hope for a repeat of summer 2023 when Walton was injured and effectively lost 2 years of being our No1 top goalie...he deserves it..
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Bazza8564 added 08:12 - Jul 30

Theipswich, the club has just spent £17m on two keepers simply because Walton isnt PL quality, they don't do that otherwise. He will be back up this year and will most likely move on next, Palmer will be gone before the season starts.
GO won't tell you what he's honestly thinking, no manager will at this stage of things because they want to let things play out with the window open, but waltons 51% save ratio in the PL last time out had us signing Palmer, theres no faith in him at that level

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Theipswich added 10:49 - Jul 30 I think Walton deserves his chance.....it's vital we have good back up but SW merits showing his worth amongst the elite
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NewForester added 10:49 - Jul 30 And Palmer's goal saving ratio was better in the Premier League than Walton's.
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StowTractor added 11:00 - Jul 30 Bazza, as I recall it Walton got injured and Muric was back in v Saints, just before the winter window closed. Then proceeded to have his worst game, conceding a last minute goal that meant victory for the only team in the division that we were better than. The very next day we signed Palmer. A panic buy but a very necessary one.
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KBsSocks added 12:15 - Jul 30 I won't forget Palmer's incredible acrobatic save against Villa ... how that one didn't go in I´ll never know. I'm confident with our three keepers plus the probable loan-out youngster.
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Bazza8564 added 16:22 - Jul 30 The comments about Walton, with respect, are somewhat moot given he has an injury which is likely to keep him out for a significant period...
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Ipswichtown4life added 21:41 - Jul 30 Scherpen is gonna start against Sunderland, no doubt, the club wouldnt spend that type of money on a goalkeeper to be sitting on the bench.. Scherpen no1 for sure
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