BATTLE FOR THE No.1 SHIRT
Holt relishing competition between the sticks
Livingston boss Gary Holt has challenged Ross Stewart to win back the goalkeeping jersey after he was dropped for the win against Celtic.
Stewart ( right) had started all of the club’s league games this season but was replaced by on loan Aston Villa stopper Matija Sarkic for Sunday’s televised clash.
And the Montenegro under- 21 international, who had played four League Cup games this term, did his chances of retaining the starting role no harm with a composed display in the Lions’ shock 2-0 win against the champions.
However, while Holt concedes that Sarkic has the starting spot just now, he says Stewart is more than capable of winning his place back in the team.
Speaking to the Courier, the manager commented: “We have two number one goalkeepers and that’s what I said when Matty came in. Ross’s levels had dipped just slightly and we felt it was a good time to take him out of the firing line a wee bit.
“Sometimes you have to protect the players.”
He added: “Matty had done himself no harm with his performance in the Rangers game and it wasn’t like we were throwing someone in who hadn’t played any games. “He came in and did his job brilliantly. He has the jersey at the moment but it’s now up to Ross to push for it. “We don’t have a structure where we have a clear number one – we want them to be challenging and determined to take the jersey.” Livingston now head into the international break, with their next fixture an away trip to Kilmarnock on October 19, and Holt says it will help a depleted squad get back to full fitness.
While Lee Miller and Hakeem Odoffin made their returns from injury as late substitutes at the weekend, the Lions are still missing key players and Holt hopes to be able to pick from a fully fit squad when they return to action.
He said: “There’s guys who will need to work on their fitness as they’ve been struggling with injuries.
“I want the task of picking a squad again and seeing who puts their head above the parapet when everyone is fully fit.”