Ipswich Town: Cieran Slicker on signing a new deal at Blues

Cieran Slicker says he feels like he's improved massively in just one year at Ipswich Town - and he wants to continue on that upward trajectory.

The young Scottish stopper, 22, agreed a new four year deal this week, having only arrived in Suffolk from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee last summer.

For Slicker, it was an easy call. "The club putting their trust in me and committing to my future is a real positive for me and now I’m buzzing with it, delighted," he enthused.

“Obviously I’ve only been here a year, but the relationships I’ve built in that year and being around the place, it feels a lot like home now.

“I think Wes (Burns) said a similar thing in his interview (after signing a new deal) but it does, it feels like a real family.

“I’m buzzing to be part of it, what we did last year and to continue what we’re doing.”

Cieran Slicker arrived from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 (Image: Ross Halls) He continued: "Since I walked into the club, everyone was brilliant with me.

“It’s a place of real development, that’s what I’ve found.

“Compared to what I was walking into the club last year and where I’m at now, it’s a really big step – I think I’ve improved a lot and my development is on an upward trajectory and I don’t want to stop that.

“I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work to keep going and keep pushing to where I want to get to finally - but I love this place."

Slicker was part of a squad which did the unthinkable last season, surging straight through the Championship and into the Premier League after finally escaping League One.

There's been a big influx of players over the summer as the Blues strengthened for the top tier - including former Man City team-mates Aro Muric and Liam Delap - but Slicker says the bond still remains.

Cieran Slicker knows Liam Delap from the youth ranks at Manchester City (Image: PA) "All the boys I’m really close with," he explained. "The new boys coming in, obviously Liam (Delap) it was nice to reunite with him.

“But all the boys who were here last year – even the ones who have moved away from the club now – I’ve got real friendships with for life, I’d say.

“It was really easy for me to settle in and even in the town and stuff like that, living here, I really enjoy it.”

Slicker has been third choice at the Blues during his time so far, and had previously spoken of wanting to go out on loan to get some playing time.

But he revealed that a chat with boss Kieran McKenna in pre-season changed that thinking. 

Kieran McKenna told Slicker in pre-season that he wanted him to stay (Image: Ross Halls) He explained: “I spoke to the boss early in pre-season and he said he wanted me to stay – and I was buzzing with it.

“I felt like it was a compliment to how I did last year and yeah I was buzzing to see that he’s seen the improvements that I made last year.

“It’s good that everyone is on the same page and now I’m buzzing to be here and there’s obviously a big season ahead, which I’m excited for.”

And, now he's in Suffolk to stay, Slicker is lapping up the learning he gets from training with the keepers ahead of him - Muric and Christian Walton.

"Chris and Aro are great, great people and are obviously top goalkeepers," he stressed.

“Aro, I remember looking up to him when I was probably 14 or 15 at Man City and he was with the first team and I trained with him a couple of times.

Slicker says he's learning a lot from Aro Muric and Christian Walton (Image: Ross Halls) “Having him here is great. I feel like we’ve probably got in some ways a similar style, so picking up from him and then Christian is great, I’m picking up things from him as well.

“It’s great to have two top goalkeepers to work with on a day-to-day basis.

"Christian is that true professional that does everything as well as he can – and to be fair, it’s the same with Aro.

“Both train really well, and off the pitch as well they’re good people to look up to.”

Christian Walton has helped push Slicker to improve (Image: Ross Halls) So, does that help his development?

"Yeah, 100%," Slicker insisted. "I had it last year with Vas (Hladky) and Chris. They’re obviously at a really high level.

“So I feel like it pushes me to keep level and keep pushing them.

“It works hand in hand – if I keep pushing them, they’ll keep pushing me and I think collectively, as a group, we’re all improving.”

With talented keepers ahead of him in the pecking order, Slicker hasn't had a lot of chances to play for the first team yet, though he did impress in Carabao Cup wins over Bristol Rovers and Reading last term.

Indeed, in the latter, he saved a penalty as Town beat the Royals on spot kicks.

Cieran Slicker celebrates saving a penalty in the Carabao Cup shoot-out win over Reading last season (Image: Ross Halls) Asked what his goals are for this season, he replied: “Probably similar things to last year – always being ready, training well.

“So if an opportunity does come I’m ready, and I feel like I am for that.

“And then just keep improving, keep pushing the other two goalkeepers, the younger ones as well, trying to help them as much as I can.

“But I’m trying to keep the development levels high and that’s it really.

“Then see where I am this point next year and that’s the main thing, just go day by day and see where you are.”