Paul Hurst believes young goalkeeper Harry Wright has ‘stepped up’ during the off-season and, as such, the Blues boss is happy to enter the new campaign with the teenager as his third-choice stopper.
Wright, the son of former Ipswich and England keeper Richard, is currently behind Bartosz Bialkowski and Dean Gerken in the Blues’ pecking order following the departure of Michael Crowe at the end of last season.
Hurst has been pleased with what he’s seen from the 19-year-old and is happy to enter the season with Wright as his third-choice goalkeeper.
“I think at this moment in time there are not really any plans to bring in another keeper,” he said.
“If anything happened during the season we’d look more at the loan market, that’s current thoughts at least and you never say never because, if something comes up that fits then we’ll happily look at it.
“In fairness to Harry he’s probably one who has stepped up a little bit. I couldn’t judge before but since I’ve come in he’s done well.
“If we have to use him then, speaking right now, it wouldn’t concern me too much.”
Wright was with the Ipswich squad for their week-long training camp in Spain before playing a part in the opening friendly with Braintree, where he pulled off two good saves in the Blues’ 2-0 loss.
He was then an unused substitute against Crawley before playing 90 minutes in the Under 23s 1-1 draw at Lowestfoft, which was watched by Hurst.
MORE: ‘I’d love to say 100% that he will be here but I can’t’ - Hurst on ‘firm’ Waghorn interest
Bialkowski is back in training and is expected to play against Barnet tomorrow, with Gerken stepping up his return from the hip injury which ended his 2017/18 season.
The Ipswich goalkeepers have been working with coach Darren Smith this summer following the retirement of Malcolm Webster and, although Smith has yet to be given the first-team coaching job full-time, Hurst is happy with the way things are working.
“Smudge is doing that at the moment and it’s not been that long we’ve been working together,” Hurst said.
“So far I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen, we get on well and I hope he feels part of the staff because he certainly is.
“It’s all as it is at the minute.”
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