New Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton knows his clean sheet on debut may not be enough to retain a starting spot, but he has vowed to push regular number one Lawrence Thomas throughout the season.
Just a day after signing as cover for Alastair Bray, Acton was rushed into Victory’s starting XI to play Newcastle Jets on Saturday after Thomas injured a finger.
Acton impressed in Victory’s 2-0 win at AAMI Park – his first Hyundai A-League match since December 2013, when he started in Brisbane Roar’s 2-1 triumph over Adelaide United.
But with Thomas likely to be fit again for Victory’s game against Perth Glory on Friday night, Acton is aware his chances of playing are slim.
“Lawrence trained this morning. That’s out of my hands,” Acton said on Wednesday.
“I came here not expecting to play straight away anyway, so whatever they decide to do – if he’s back playing, I’ll support him 100 per cent.”
Acton arrived at Victory as a replacement for back-up goalkeeper Bray, who is out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder.
But the 24-year-old, who signed for Victory just over a month after completing a season with Kaya in the Philippines, will not give Thomas an easy ride.
“I’ve tasted being a number one now in Myanmar and the Philippines, so definitely craving to be a number one goalkeeper, that’s for sure,” Acton said.
“No goalkeeper aspires to be on the bench.”
Having played 30 games for Kaya in 2016, Acton feels fit and ready to make an impact in the Hyundai A-League after previously limited opportunities at Roar.
But regardless of whether he starts, Acton is convinced the next few months at Victory will help him.
“I think it’s going to be beneficial, that’s for sure, because the standard of training is so high,” he said.
“I’m not too worried about what the future holds.
“I’ve never really been worried about what the future holds, so all I can really control is my day-to-day training and that’s trying to improve every single day.”
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