By Luke James

www.betweenthesticks.blog

FOREST GREEN goalkeeper Sam Russell is far from content with a watching brief.

Russell played all 54 of the club’s league and cup matches last season, but has, at least for now, lost his position as the club’s number one to Chelsea loanee Brad Collins.

He played in the 1-0 League Cup loss to MK Dons, but watched the club’s first Football League fixtures from the bench.

The decision is a blow for Russell, who worked hard over eight years to earn a return to League Football – his last appearance coming for Rochdale in 2009.

“Last year I didn’t have a great deal of competition. I played every single game,” Russell told www.betweenthesticks.blog.

“There’s obviously a lot more pressure on this year. Both the goalkeepers we’ve brought in this year, I think they’re of a really, really good standard. The goalkeeping standard has picked up, it’s on another level.

“Bradley’s got a hell of a lot of potential. He’s ready to play games, but I’m not ready not to play games yet.”

It’s clear though that the former England youth international sees the competition as healthy and treats it in the spirit of the goalkeepers’ union.

“Hopefully we’ll put pressure on each other, but as a goalkeeper you’ll always have a good union and get on together,” he concluded.

“We’ll push each other and help each other through training.

“Being the older one with the experience, hopefully I’ll help them as much as I can and they’ll learn from me.”