Dundee goalkeeper Adam Legzdins will have his work cut out to oust Harry Sharp from the team when he returns from injury admits boss Gary Bowyer.
The former Birmingham and Derby keeper has been the club’s No 1 choice since March 2021.
But a long-term knee injury has kept him out of contention since February, allowing the club’s other goalies Ian Lawlor and Sharp a chance with the gloves.
Youngster Sharp, who made his Dundee league debut in March when the more experienced Lawlor was downed with Covid, has grabbed that opportunity with both hands.
Though the victory over Forfar on Saturday was only the 21-year-old’s 12th first-team appearance, new boss Bowyer has been pleased with Sharp’s maturity between the sticks.
And he’s delighted to have such strong options competing for the No 1 spot when Legzdins returns to full fitness.
The 35-year-old has begun training once more with the team and took part in the warm-up ahead of Saturday’s game.
‘Real fight on their hands’
“It’s great competition to have,” the Dundee boss told the Courier.
“I’ve been really impressed with Harry since we’ve arrived. How he’s gone about things in the games.
“He made a couple of decent saves against Hamilton and made one very good save against Queen’s Park at a good time. That’s really good for him.
“He’s got the jersey and it’s up to the other two now. That’s the competition you want.
“We’re happy with that.
“The level of maturity Harry has shown has been very good.
“Obviously he got his chance at the back end of last season and, at the moment, he’s put his claim forward.
“The other two know they have a real fight on their hands and that’s really good.”
Legzdins
Speaking ahead of the club’s return to pre-season training, Legzdins told the Courier in June: “We have a strong goalkeeping department.
“I like to think I can bring my experience and my ability to the department and ultimately I want to get back playing.
“There are no guarantees to any of that as Harry and Ian both did very well.
“But I was lucky enough to play the games I did last season and I just want to get back out playing as soon as possible – it is as simple as that.”
Bounce game
Also returning to training with their team-mates have been Lee Ashcroft and Cillian Sheridan.
Central defender Ashcroft missed the majority of last season with a serious hamstring tear while Sheridan was out even longer with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
No date has been set for those two or Legzdins to return to first-team contention but Bowyer confirmed the club were looking to organise a bounce game to get their match fitness levels up.
“Adam Legzdins has stepped up his training and on Thursday he had the gloves on and was working with the other goalkeepers so that’s good,” Bowyer added.
“Lee Ashcroft joined in with us for his first footballing session last week. Again, moving the right way and Cillian as well, both joined in.
“That’s really good.
“We’ll give them another full week’s training and then try to get a practice match organised for them.
“We are happy with the way they are going.”
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