Barnsley FC goalkeepers Brad Collins, Jack Walton and Jamie Searle prepare to battle for No 1 spot

The 21-year-old New Zealand international had spells with Aston Villa and Swansea City but was always the bridesmaid, never the bride when the first teams were picked.

Now he wants to put that right but Brad Collins and Jack Walton have warned him to expect stiff competition.

“What every footballer wants to do is play games and you can’t replicate the experience in training,” said Searle. “To go out and play games is exactly what I need.

“Life as a back-up goalkeeper is a lot of training, a lot of hard work and you don’t normally get the rewards from it but it just puts you in good stead for when you do get the opportunity.

“When the opportunity comes around you have to take it. You don’t like not playing but it’s a team sport and there’s only 11 on the pitch. You have to keep pushing the other goalkeepers and they’ll push you.

“It’s a very strong goalkeeping group here and all we can ask is to push each other on the training pitch.”

Walton, last season’s No 2 with Collins in excellent form, says he will get that.

“We’re quite a close-knit group as goalkeepers, always have been,” he said. “The aim for us is to push each other. “There’s a new gaffer, new eyes and all three of us are after one shirt so we push each other to be the best we can be.

“It’s the decision for the gaffer who plays and when that decision is made it’s for the other players to then push that player to get the best out of him. You fully support them and make sure they’re ready for each game.”

Collins already gets the sense new manager Michael Duff will be very demanding.

“He’s exactly what the club needed,” he commented. “He’s a lot about mentality, which is a lot different to last season and that’s great. There are a lot of young boys here who sometimes need that little push in the back of their head. It’s a great appointment and we’re all looking forward to him.

“Last season was more tactical but I feel like this gaffer has a lot more under his belt and he knows the English game, which is a big plus, and has had so many promotions.”