Goalkeeping dilemma awaits Keane as past and present players refuse to rule out an unlikely play-off bid

Fri 16 Oct 09

Roy Keane's prolonged search for a loan signing to boost his under confident ranks finally paid off this week.

But the signing of Bosnian international keeper Asmir Begovic left more people scratching their heads than saluting the manager's wheeling and dealing. A centre back or centre forward - or preferably both - were needed, sceptics cried as the 6ft 6ins stopper rolled up to IP1.

Richard Wright might have had some truly dodgy moments in recent matches but playing behind the worst defence in the league will make a keeper do that. He has been in the firing line so often that mistakes are inevitable. And after Grant Leadbitter, it could be argued that Wright has been the club's most consistent, if busiest, performer.

Putting on his diplomatic hat, Keane gave nothing way after securing the big Bosnian claiming that he has always liked three keepers fighting it out within a squad. But Begovic was withdrawn from Bosnia's World Cup match against Spain to sign for the Super Blues.

And given the fact he walked away from a match that saw his countrymen concede five goals, he must have one eye on a World Cup Play-Off spot and beyond.

Make no mistake about it, he has not come to Town to play second fiddle. That might have been okay when you were in Portsmouth's Premier League squad learning from England's number one, David James. But he won't fancy warming the bench for the next three months watching Wright keep goal.

The most revealing insight into his motives probably came from Begovic himself five months ago after he made his Premier League debut in May's 3-1 win against Sunderland. He told BBC Radio Solent that another loan move away from Fratton Park might be the best way to develop his career.

He said: "Maybe it is another loan move to get back and prepare to play in this team. I don't know what the next step is but I just really want to be playing as much as I can and that's the way I can keep developing and progressing."

Then, speaking to the club website after his loan signing this week, Begovic said: "I know things are not going too well for Ipswich at the moment but they didn't have to do a big selling job to get me to come here.

"Ipswich is a big club. The manager is first class, the facilities are great and it gives me the chance to push for first-team football and that is what I want. It's a great challenge."

He is clearly ambitious and he has clearly been given the right kind of assurances from Keane. Whether this means a starting berth against Swansea remains to be seen. But Wright must know that he doesn't have many more lives left.   Part 2 >>