Notts County goalkeeper Sam Slocombe has praised Leicester City loanee Brad Young and understands his frustrations about not playing more games at Meadow Lane.
The 20-year-old joined the Magpies from the Premier League side at the start of the campaign to provide competition for the experienced 'keeper for the upcoming season.
But the fantastic form of the 34-year-old has restricted Young to just one appearance this season, coming in Notts' 3-2 defeat to Coalville Town in the FA Cup.
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Slocombe has kept nine clean sheets in the opening 20 National League games, bettering the Magpies' total by five from this point last season.
He has asserted himself as the number one under Luke Williams, having competition last season from Vitezslav Jaros and Anthony Patterson last campaign.
And while Slocombe understands the frustrations Young may have about not playing as many minutes this season, he insists that he provides tough competition for himself and fellow goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks, with the 34-year-old explaining he knows if he is not on top form, he will be replaced.
"I think first and foremost what you need to know about Brad is that he is just as disappointed about not playing many games.
"If we're honest, he probably came here wanting to play football and improve his experience.
"He is in a position where he hasn't had those opportunities as much as he wants, but the biggest thing is that his demeanour, his attitude and what he brings every day to the training ground is huge.
"I think what he has brought is somebody to provide massive competition not only for myself but for Tiernan so that has helped them and has improved their levels collectively.
"I am not daft enough to know, I have been in this game long enough to know if you're not at it and focused, you are not going to be in the team for that long.
"So, whether it be Brad or Tiernan, if they're on it and I am not, I am not going to last that much longer in the team."
Young regularly returns to the Foxes' Seagrave training ground to partake in sessions with their staff to monitor his development whilst out on loan.
And while Slocombe started his career when Young was just eight years old, he explained that he will continually ask him questions about his sessions at Leicester, adding that the work done with goalkeeper coach Tom Weal is helping him improve for when he returns to the King Power Stadium.
"The competition he brings is huge. I know he is only young but, I will ask him questions about what they do at Leicester and the 'keepers that he works with because they have really good experience."
"I will be asking him questions and he will be asking them back, and the biggest thing for me is that despite having frustrations of not playing here, he's coming back from sessions he is doing with Leicester and saying the work we are doing here is helping him feel more comfortable and better in the sessions going there because of the information he is taking on here.
"I know for a fact he will be frustrated he is not playing games, but he has been fantastic, and it has been a fantastic learning experience for him, and I hope it does pay dividends for him in the future."
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