Bartosz Bialkowski believes his lacklustre start to the current season was in part down to only having a short break from football last summer.

Bialkowski, who was on World Cup duty in Russia with Poland, said: “I only had about 10 days between that and going back to training, and by the time I returned the pre-season programme was already well under way.

“It’s a long season in the Championship over here. In other countries there are winter breaks.

“When I was at Southampton I was at the U20 World Cup. I’d had a good year with Southampton and I had a really good tournament. When I came back I had a week off and I started the first game of the season.

“But I wasn’t myself and it was an embarrassing situation to be honest. I hadn’t had a long enough break.”

That was back in 2007 when the Saints, managed at the time by ex-Town boss George Burley, suffered an opening-day home defeat to Crystal Palace, for whom another former Portman Road favourite, striker James Scowcroft, helped himself to a hat-trick in the Eagles’ 4-1 win.

But Bialkowski is not trying to make excuses to explain why he suffered such a slump in form and even went as far as to suggest a lack of commitment in training may have been another contributory factor.

Asked to explain why his level of performance dipped to such an extent, the keeper added: “I don’t know — there have been lots of things and not having a proper break was part of it.

“I know every player who was at the World Cup can say that but it was tough for me. I didn’t have the whole pre-season but I didn’t train hard enough I suppose.

“That was one of the things. I didn’t feel, you know, 100 per cent. I don’t want to say too much but I am my own worst critic.

“I know when I am making mistakes and I am the first person to admit that I should have done better and trained harder. But let’s leave it at that.”

The same fans who voted Bialkowski their Player of the Year in each of the three previous seasons were puzzled by his form during the early stages of the current campaign when Town, under the leadership of new manager Paul Hurst, made such an inconspicuous start.

Indeed, after just one point from the first four league games, Hurst saw fit to axe Bialkowski for the East Anglian derby clash with Norwich, the experienced keeper later revealing that the news was only relayed to him 90 minutes before the noon kick-off.

“I didn’t have a problem with him dropping me, I just had a problem with how he handled it,” added the keeper.

“There is no player in the world that is undroppable — if you are not performing you cannot expect to play. You need to perform every week. It was just the way he handled the situation that I thought was wrong.”

Hurst departed in October to be replaced by Paul Lambert, by which time Bialkowski had regained his first team place. However, after no wins from his first five games in charge, Lambert decided to drop the Pole and recall Dean Gerken as his number one.

But Bialkowski, who is on a run of 10 consecutive appearances going into Saturday’s home clash with Hull, pointed out: “He [Lambert] acted completely differently. He took me into his office and we had a great chat, and after that he said he was going to play Deano.

“I felt better after speaking to him because it was a very good conversation. It’s such a small detail but for a player it can make a real difference.

“I always try to perform the best I can but I just couldn’t for some reason. I tried to put in some extra work in training and that didn’t work either.

“In recent weeks I have been feeling a lot better and sharp again, and credit must go to Jimmy Walker, the goalkeeping coach, who has been absolutely brilliant. He knows what I need and I am feeling the benefit of the work we do together.

Meanwhile, Bialkowski has tipped season-long loanees Matthew Pennington and Trevoh Chalobah, from Everton and Chelsea respectively, as leading contenders to succeed him at the top of the fans’ annual poll.

“It’s a tough one,” he conceded. “I think Penno and Trev have both been very good and played some decent football — but it’s impossible to say who the fans will pick.”

Photo: TWTD

MichaelRockyLavelle added 22:52 - Mar 28 Bart strikes me as such a genuine person. Simultaneously a sensitive but determined soul, whilst very humble & self-aware, but my goodness are some of his saves spectacular. dare I say our best keeper since Wright. Goalkeeping is more about mental attributes, than physical and hence man-management is critical, one of the few elements Hurst seemed to lack (which is a shame as there was a lot of promise). I recall Bart lost his father not so long ago and that clearly affected him at the time. Bart deserves to go down as an Ipswich hero, albeit in dark times. Let's hope he stays and propels us back to the Championship (& beyond) . though he'd have to take a cut in his wages for practicality But saying that, he also deserves a shot at a higher level, and for his country and I would not begrudge him if he left. An honourable man, with a heart of gold.

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BlueySwede added 06:39 - Mar 29 Something has clearly been wrong, especially in the beginning of the season. Its only for the last six games or so Bart has really looked the player he was for the last sessions. Lovely guy with Ipswich at heart!
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SouperJim added 09:09 - Mar 29 If there is one criticism I could level at our fans this season, it is the death of the "big pole in the goal" chant. Bart has been so fantastic for us over several years now, he deserves our backing even when things haven't been going so well for him. Let's let him know we're still behind him 100%, as a performing Bart will be absolutely vital for us in league one.
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harlingblue added 02:57 - Mar 30 Bart was really poor when selected during the early part of the year, cost us several points. However in his defense, had lost his dad during the last season, was away with a very poor Poland national team, and had only 10 days leave. Take away our loan flair player Celina, always injured for us McGoldrick, take everything bar the goalkick Waghorn, and Garner, goalscorer and defensive battler, our offence had nothing as they left our team. We have suffered this season.

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