Ben Garratt says his game will only improve with Dave Richards back fit and pushing for a place

Goalkeeper Ben Garratt says he welcomes the competition being provided for the number one spot by the fit-again Dave Richards. The former Cardiff and Bristol City stopper has been in good form for the club’s Development Squad since returning from a broken foot. The Welsh goalkeeper sustained the injury in training in September and the Burnley youngster Dan Nizic was drafted in on loan to act as cover and competition to Garratt.

Ben told the club’s official web-site: “It is good to have Dave back. He is a good lad and he works hard every day. Of course, we are in competition for the number one spot but that happens with goalkeepers. You need that competition for your place and it was the same when Dan (Nizic) was here on loan.

“We work hard every day with Fred (Barber) and I enjoy working with him and the other goalkeepers. The only way you improve as a player is to be out there on the training ground.

“We work on all aspects of goalkeeping with Fred, crossing, shooting, kicking, everything you can think of really and we do two or three double sessions a week as well.

“We got through the games afterwards and try and learn from our mistakes. We try to wrap it up and move on quickly to the next one.”

Although Crewe Alexandra are bottom of the league, Garratt has still managed to catch the eye with some outstanding performances. His saves have certainly kept us in a certain amount of games.

He said: “It is not ideal to see the ball going into your net but I am doing all I can to try and stop that happening. If you let get to you then it can affect you but I tend not to dwell too much on what has gone and what can be improved on.”