Keeper Dean Gerken is set to be out of action for at least a month with the shoulder injury he sustained in the closing stages of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Birmingham City.

The 30-year-old collided with James Vaughan and required lengthy treatment before seeing out the game’s final minutes.

“Gerks has seen a specialist in London and had a scan and he has suffered a partially torn ligament in his right shoulder,” physio Matt Byard told the club site.

“He will be reviewed again in two weeks and we are looking at a return at the earliest in four weeks if there are no setbacks in that time. It could be longer.”

In Gerken’s absence, Bartosz Bialkowski will come back into the side with Town's next match against Reading at Portman Road on Tuesday.

Bialkowski played in the FA Cup games with Portsmouth earlier in the month - and was in goal for the Capital One Cup tie at Manchester United in September - but his last league match was the 2-0 home victory over Burnley in August, having also started the opening two Championship fixtures.

Gerken subsequently established himself as Town's number one after Bialkowski was given compassionate leave to return home to Poland to be with his dying father.

Former Wales U19 international Michael Crowe, 20, is currently on loan at Braintree Town and can’t be recalled until February 7th, so Scotland U21 international Jonathan Henly, 21, who joined the Blues in August following a trial, is likely to be on the bench against the Royals, the club who released him last summer.

With neither Crowe nor Henly having played a Football League game, manager Mick McCarthy could look for more experienced cover as he did last season when Gerken suffered a knock and veteran former Sheffield United and Ireland keeper Paddy Kenny joined on a short-term deal.

Photo: Action Images

sidtheswan added 17:53 - Jan 27 Thank god . Whilst I feel sorry for Deano as he has got better since playing regularly but he can make some quality saves he is just not as good as Bart in the art of goalkeeping . Bart appears calmer he comes for crosses, commands his box and is all round the better keeper . This makes the back 4 panic less and we shouldn't ship so many poor goals . Time will tell and hopefully Bart can prove MM wrong .

3

grumpyoldman added 17:53 - Jan 27 Now we have the opportunity to see if the experts on this site are right about Bart being the better keeper, I personally don't think there is much to chose between them
4

runaround added 17:54 - Jan 27 I too prefer Bart but admit Gerks has won me over in last couple of months. Big chance for Bart now though & hopefully he will do well & give Mick a selection headache once Gerks is fit again! If he does do well it will be interesting as to whether Mick did recall Gerks once fit. If Bart does excellently but still gets dropped he would surely look to move on
2

prebbs007 added 18:04 - Jan 27 Now nobody in their ITFC supporters mind wants to see one of their own injured or suspended but this can't be seen as a disaster!!! So many fans have criticised him and even though he has improved he is still nowhere near good enough for a promotion chasing team. Bart is more commanding, more communicative, more dominating and better technically. He is far better on crosses and in coming off his line. The defence (in the past) has seemed more comfortable with Bart behind them so we all need to get behind him and hope he takes his chance so well that Gerken doesn't play again this season. That's not to say I don't want to see him regain fitness but if he can't get back in its because Bart has shone !! Speedy recovery But injuries are part of the game and I'm glad Bart has got his chance !! Still think we need better than both of them longer term !!

6

legoman added 18:13 - Jan 27 We will go on a winning run now with Bart back in goal. Should never have been dropped. Sad for Gerks but his run in the team was good for him.
1

RobTheMonk added 18:15 - Jan 27 Get well soon Gerks! I've had 6 years worth of shoulder issues so know how much of a pain it is! And go on Bartman - make the position yours again!
3

Stato added 18:55 - Jan 27 We have conceded more goals than any of the sides above us and last season they performed so much better as a unit. If I was in Micks shoes however I would already be scouting for a new keeper and new left back ready for a summer reshuffle.
2

muccletonjoe added 19:12 - Jan 27 No Douglas and now no gerks. How will mm cope without the howls of disapproval next Tuesday
0

ITFCGloryDays added 19:28 - Jan 27 Completely agree with 'righty's' message. We will get nowhere with the input coming in from the top of the club. Yes there are apparent reasons from on high but when all is said done of the hearing of the want of promotion from MM and of ME seemingly still wishing this then you have to at least provide evidence, which isn't happening.
2

Keaneish added 19:45 - Jan 27 To all this use the same old rhetoric of, "Bart's the better keeper, he commands his box better but Gerks is the better shot stopper", well, Gerken's been the busiest shot stopper of any keeper in the top half of the table this season so where does that leave us? No use being good at commanding your area if you've got shots raining in at you. No one ever questions Skuse though... Interesting to see who MM puts on the bench.

1

thebeat added 19:51 - Jan 27 Now this is going to be interesting. Will Mick be true to his word if Bart comes in and plays well and keep him in the team when Gerkens back as he did with Gerken when Barts dad died? Personally i doubt it....
2

essex57 added 19:59 - Jan 27 No worries Bart the better keeper so most people on here have been saying hope they are correct.
-1

bluesman added 20:12 - Jan 27 Bart was the better of the two back in the days when he was occasionally spotted on the pitch, though he's had a long and frustrating lay off. Hopefully he'll reclaim the keepers shirt and help us get back into the top six
2

ChrisFelix added 20:13 - Jan 27 He is the main reason we have conceded more goals than others in the top 7
0

Keaneish added 20:27 - Jan 27 That's not true though is it Chrishants?
4

ChrisFelix added 20:37 - Jan 27 I watched our keepers since the 60s. Gerken wouldn't make my Top20. For one he doesn't control his box and defence. He is as effective as Lewis Price
3

algarvefan added 22:02 - Jan 27 Personally I feel there is little to choose between Bart and Gerks, neither are in the top drawer for me but both are capable but no more. The lack of any investment by the owners is beginning to frighten me, the team have done well considering but that can't go on forever. Anyone know a filthy rich businessman with money to invest?
4

Michael11 added 22:25 - Jan 27 As long as it's just an injury instead of bad form or your Dad dying then you should get your place back in 4 weeks.
1

Jimmy86 added 23:10 - Jan 27 Whilst he has improved somewhat and is a decent enough shot stopper, I think Bart is the better keeper and Gerken is slightly weaker in every other department. Prior to Bart losing his place due to compassionate leave he was playing well, coming for crosses and taking pressure of the back 4. Gerken is often routed to his line and doesn't command is area well enough. The back 4 don't really trust Gerken and you can tell. Will be interesting to see if the soft, sloppy goals stop being conceded with Bart back in. If Gerken goes straight back in when fit, it will speak volumes about who mick prefers.

3

HarryS_H added 23:44 - Jan 27 No one can say Marcus Evans doesn't spend money! Every time there's a sniff of an injury a specialist sees to it!
0

harlingblue added 02:43 - Jan 28 It's a shame for Gerken as he has had a good season, and has certainly kicked on. However Bart was also in good form until he had to leave due to family bereavement, and it his time to kick on. Will be good when both are fit and Bart has to kick on to keep Gerk's regaining his place. Henly will be an ample backup in the meantime.
0

Garv added 08:35 - Jan 28 Please don't go and loan another keeper to sit on the bench. The chances of Bart also getting injured are low. If we have a youngster able to deputise for a little while then let him have the experience.
1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:54 - Jan 28 The squad suddenly looks a little thin doesn't it? Good job we have a week off.
1

BlueKush added 09:24 - Jan 28 Gerken was awful for his first 15 or so games, leaking like a salad - but since that patch he has looked better. He was dodgy Saturday for the first 2 Brum goals though. No-one can begrudge Bart his chance! I hope he hasn't festered!
1

vanmunt added 09:36 - Jan 28 To be fair to Bart, he has been in goal with a completely different team in front of him in his last couple of games. It will be interesting to see him behind MM 'Different Class' defenders .
1

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