James Shea says it has been ‘difficult’ sitting on the bench this term but that he knew Luton were going to sign another goalkeeper in the summer, so he’s determined to fight for a chance.
The stopper was Town’s number one last term and won the League One golden gloves with 19 clean sheets in 41 league appearances as the Hatters won the title.
But in the summer the club broke their club record transfer fee to bring Croatian international Simon Sluga to England for €1.5million.
And that has left Shea having to play second fiddle in the Championship, with his two appearance coming in the Carabao Cup, which Luton are no longer a part of after losing 4-0 to Premier League high-flyers Leicester City on Tuesday.
Despite the scoreline, Shea was comfortably the man of the match with a string of fine saves.
Speaking about his season so far, after the game, the 28-year-old said: “It’s been difficult. I knew they were going to bring another goalkeeper in, Simon’s come in, Simon’s been playing, all I can do is keep my head down and try to play well when we have games like this and when we’ve had friendly games, try and do well, and do well in training.
“I’ve just got to keep my head down, if get a chance, I get a chance and try and take it. The gaffer has said from day one, places up are up for grabs and he’ll do it on footballing matters.
“So all I can do is when I get a game, like tonight, try and do as well as I can I’d like to think I’ve given him something to think about but we’ll wait and see.”
Town travel to Blackburn in the Championship on Saturday and Shea is eager to get his chance in the division.
“I want to be here, I want to fight for the shirt, I want to play,” he said, adding: “It’s not just me, there’s four of us at the moment fighting for the shirt, Stechy (Marek Stech) and Harry (Isted) as well.
“We’re all pushing each other every day in training, we all want to fight, we get on really well, but we all want to play.
“It is what it is, you just get on with it, I enjoy competition, it pushes me every single day in training and I looked forward to it.
“I come in every single day knowing I want to be better, not just me, but everyone, that’s all I can do.”
