Hatters keeper Shea determined to push Sluga all the way for number one shirt

Hatters keeper James Shea is determined to push Simon Sluga all the way for the number one jersey at Kenilworth Road this season.

The 29-year-old was understudy to the Croatian international for large parts of the previous campaign, although did still make 13 Championship appearances in total.

Once Sluga reclaimed his place from January onwards though, he finished the season as first choice, but going into the new term that starts this weekend at Barnsley, Shea said: “Simon has done really well, especially when he got back in, but I want to play, I want to compete, I want to push him and I want him to push me.

“As long as someone’s doing the job for the team that’s all that matters.

"He’ll probably play at the weekend and I’ll be right behind him, but I don’t want to be falling behind.

“I don’t want to be the goalkeeper, that’s ‘oh he didn’t play well at the weekend, it’s all right, Simon’s back at the weekend,’ I want to be pushing him every week.”

Sluga, who became the Hatters’ record signing when he arrived from HNK Rijeka last summer, had something of a baptism of fire to life in England.

He started the first 11 matches, but conceded a number of soft goals, eventually taken out of the side after a costly double error at Derby County.

On how difficult a period that was for his team-mate, Shea continued: “You can see it was tough for him, he came in and everything just happened so quickly, he didn’t have time to settle.

“It was hard, I wouldn’t have a clue how to experience that.

"I’ve never had to do that, never had to move countries, I don’t think I probably I could do it if I’m honest, so I’m sure he had loads of things going on.

"It’s a completely different game, the English game to playing in Croatia, it’s massive.

“Once he got used to it, he was a different keeper, you can see the confidence in him from when he was at the start and you can see why he’s a Croatian international.”

In the end, Sluga was a big part of the Town staying up, as he kept six clean sheets and made some vital saves, with a last-minute stop at Wigan sticking out, plus starring in the 1-1 draw at Leeds once lockdown was over.

Shea was quick to praise his fellow keeper, saying: “He was massive, absolutely massive.

"You can always tell, even when he was going through a tough time, he always showed those moments when he’d pull off a save when you think ‘how did he save that?’

“So you always knew he was a good goalkeeper, he just needed that little bit of luck to go his way as well.”

Although Shea had to watch on from the bench during the final stages of the campaign and see his competitor hit top form, it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm to get back in.

He added: “To be honest, I just think, ‘right if I get a chance, I get a chance.’

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll keep pushing, I want to make him as good as he can be.

"Don’t get me wrong, I want to be playing, I want to play as many games as I can, but if Simon’s doing the business, you’ve just got to hold your hands up and say ‘he’s playing well, there’s nothing I can do about that.’

“I remember when I first joined, the first seven or eight months, Stechy (Marek Stech) was unbelievable, so I had to hold my hands up and say ‘he’s playing well, I can’t moan about that.’

"But if I get a chance, if I can play the cup games, I’ve got to show the manager he can trust me if anything does change, he can put me in.”

Shea did just that at the weekend with an excellent display in the 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Norwich City.

He kept out the Canaries twice in the first half, before a string of excellent and crucial stops after the break with the scores goalless.

On his performance, the keeper said: "I was over the moon that we won the game and also I’d like to think I had a decent game myself.

"I thought it was a good footballing game, when I was watching it it felt a bit like a chess game, we try and break you down, they try and break us down, and for the first 70 minutes, the defences were on top.

"Then it was mental as you’ve got three goals in the space of about five minutes.

“I didn’t expect it, I half thought 'we’re going to pens here.'

“The saves I expect to make, that’s my job, that’s what I’m there to do, I was more pleased with the other stuff.

"I caught a couple of crosses in the first half, I threw a couple out, my distribution went well at the weekend.

“Everyone expects goalkeepers to make saves, that's their job, but the other bits, the organisation, the throwing, that people don’t really realise, but it’s probably 80 per cent of our game really.

“The Northampton game the week before was brilliant for me too, that was my first game for about 10 months.

"I felt a bit lost for the first 20 minutes and then I got into it, but it was the perfect game for me to get ready for Norwich."

One of Shea's best stops went unnoticed by referee John Busby as he flung himself to his left to tip over Bali Mumba's fierce drive in the first half, only for a goal kick to be awarded.

However, the stopper had no issue with not getting the credit, saying: "I did save it, I must admit, but don’t get me wrong, if it goes for a goal kick, I’ll happily take it.

"It takes the pressure off the defence, we don’t have to defend a corner, I’ll happily sacrifice my saves being recognised, I could not care if I’m honest.

“Some of the boys were asking me and I said I couldn't care less if they don't realise I've made a save or not.

"We don't have to defend a corner, it's one less chance for them to score, so if it takes my saves away, I'm not fussed, I’m really not.

“You will get some keepers who want the recognition of course, but me, it doesn't bother me at all.

"I'd rather have a goal kick and we get up the pitch or we keep the ball and try and go again."