Roos has to earn place back in side
WAYNE Rooney has challenged Kelle Roos to win back his place in goal for Derby County.
Roos and Ryan Allsop have been vying for the number one spot all season.
Roos has started 16 of the League fixtures but the 29-year-old lost his place in the team against Bristol City at the weekend and Allsop came in.
It was Allsop’s fifth League start and seventh in total, having started both Carabao Cup ties, against Salford City and Sheffield United, in August.
Asked about his decision to change keepers last Saturday, Rooney said: “I just feel Ryan has trained really well, he has been pushing Kelle in training without getting the game time and I felt it was the right time.
“Obviously, it is always tough when you change your goalkeeper but I felt it was the right time.
“The goalkeeper position is no different to the outfield players. What I have said, the messages I have given the players since I have been in the job, is you get your chance and if you do well you keep your place.
“If I feel you are not doing as well as you can do, then you are giving your team-mates an opportunity to come in. That is no different to the outfield players or the goalkeepers.”
Rooney says the challenge now for Roos is to force his way back into the
starting line-up.
“Of course he wants to play. I would expect nothing less than him to be disappointed, that’s football,” added Rooney.
“When you are not playing, you get disappointed but it is on Kelle to show me a good reaction and show me he deserves to come in and play.
“But it is also on Ryan now to make it hard for me to leave him out of the team.”
Allsop looks set to keep his place when Blackpool visit Pride Park Stadium today.
Both Allsop and Roos are out of contract in the summer, as is David Marshall, the experienced Scotland international who has been thirdchoice keeper all season.