Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna to stick with goalkeeper Christian Walton instead of recalling Aro Muric for Premier League trip to Fulham

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed that goalkeeper Christian Walton will retain his place between the posts for Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

Having not played in the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season, Walton was recalled by McKenna on Monday night and he went on to star in the 2-0 win over Chelsea.

It has given McKenna a decision to make, with summer signing Aro Muric having been his number one option so far this season.

However, after being impressed by the 29-year-old’s level of performance in the first victory of the season at Portman Road, the boss has opted to stick with Walton for the encounter at Craven Cottage.

“I think Christian will play the next game, deservedly so after how he did in the last game,” said the Tractor Boys boss.

“We’ve got two outstanding senior goalkeepers at the club now and one very, very good young one in Cieran Slicker.

“Christian and Aro are both – in our opinions – excellent goalkeepers. They've both got the qualities and a lot of the quality that we need in the squad this year in terms of their shot-stopping and cross-taking.

“They’ve both got different attributes and different experiences alongside that, but two very good goalkeepers and that puts us in a very good position.”

Asked how Muric had responded to losing his place in the team, McKenna added: “He’s been very good. He was very good in the build up to the Chelsea game and he’s been very good in training this week. He’s working hard on himself and supporting the group as well, so he’s in a good place.”

Meanwhile, McKenna will be without the services of Conor Chaplin for the journey to the capital.

The attacking midfielder has been an unused substitute in the recent Premier League encounters against Arsenal and Chelsea – and now he is set to miss the ‘next couple of weeks’ with a knee injury.

McKenna said: “Conor Chaplin is going to be out for a couple of weeks. He’s picked up a knock on his knee, so that’s going to rule him out for a couple of weeks. We’re still sort of assessing it exactly.”

Striker George Hirst (knee) and defender Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring) are also still ‘at least a couple of weeks’ away from coming back into contention for a place in the squad.