INTERVIEW: Now is the time to push on

"I think it's been really important for me to have a trial period before I've signed," he said. "It's allowed me to get to know the lads and it's given Caigy a chance to see the type of player I am. 

"I got a chance to play 45 minutes in the game against Southampton last week and that meant I could start learning about how the lads play." 

"I've actually been here a while because the keepers came in a week before the rest of the squad," he explained. "There were six of us and Tony [Caig] asked two of us to come back when pre-season started properly. 

"That gave me a little vote of confidence because it meant he'd seen enough to want me to come into full training. That was then a good opportunity to impress Kav and he pulled me into the office after the fun day on Saturday to tell me he'd liked what he'd seen and that I was going to be given a contract." 

"I've enjoyed my time here so I just wanted to sign and get on with working as hard as I possibly can," he told us. "Working with Mark [Gillespie] has been good. We're around the same age and we've been pushing each other in training already. Now that all of the paperwork has been done I can concentrate on trying to get into the team and trying to better myself. 

"Mark has had a lot more experience than me but, at the moment, we've both got the ability to be pushing for the number one shirt. We're having a good time in training and it's making everything really competitive which can only be a positive for both of us."

"I've played in Spain for the Glenn Hoddle Academy, and I spent last year in Malta, so I do feel like now is the time to push on and try and get myself into the team," he continued. "Nobody likes sitting on the bench but I know I've got to bide my time and push as hard as I can in training to make sure I'm ready to take my chances." 

"I know the end of last season wasn't enjoyable for anybody at the club but there isn't any sign of a hangover," he said. "I've spoken to Kav and he's in a positive frame of mind. All the lads are determined to put things right and there's a real buzz around the club. 

"The friendlies give me a good opportunity to show people what I can do as I try and get my place in the team. Everybody is trying to push so they're in the starting 11 for the first game against Luton. 

"Caigy has been totally honest about what he wants to see from me and what I need to work on. We've been doing a lot of fitness work at the moment and he wants us all to make sure we keep on top of that so we can keep pushing each other in training."

"It's a big boost to know that I'm wanted at the club," he concluded. "It makes things a lot more relaxed and it means I can focus on working as hard as I can. That's what I'll be doing and hopefully things will work out well for all of us."