Bartosz Bialkowski is delighted to see creative forces David McGoldrick and Teddy Bishop back from long-term injury and admitted things could be very different for Ipswich Town had they not spent so long on the sidelines.
The Blues fell further behind the play-off places on Tuesday night after drawing 0-0 at home to Charlton, with the only real bright spots being the Portman Road returns of both McGoldrick and Bishop.
Teenage midfielder Bishop hadn’t kicked a ball this season due to hamstring and shin trouble while McGoldrick, who played three minutes at Wolves on Saturday, has been restricted to just five league starts in another injury-hit campaign.
The pair return at a time when the Blues are seven points off the play-offs with six games to go and, while Bialkowski still believes Ipswich can make a late challenge, he admitted they could have been in a much stronger position had both McGoldrick and Bishop not been sidelined for so long.
“It (a point against Charlton) isn’t enough,” the goalkeeper admitted.
“When you can’t win the game you have to make sure you don’t lose it so we got a point, but it’s not enough. It’s a real shame.
“Both of them (McGoldrick and Bishop) are two fantastic players and we’ve been missing them all season, we’re just glad they’re back for the rest of the games.
“Probably (it could have been different) because they are very good players and we’ve missed them.
“There are still 18 points to grab and we still believe it, we have to, because anything can happen. We’ll see.
“We have tough games like against (play-off rivals) Derby but then, on the other hand, if we beat them then we might be able to get back in there again.”
The Blues have failed to score in four of their last five games but have only conceded two in that time, leaving Bialkowski with mixed feelings.
“For keepers and defenders to keep a clean sheet is always great, it’s just a shame we couldn’t steal it in the end (against Charlton),” he said.
“There are still six games left so we just have to start scoring goals, because we’ve proved we are ok defensively,.
“We need to just find the solution.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here