GOALKEEPER Nick Carroll must bide his time to reclaim the number one jersey at Portland United, according to Stuart Heath.

Carroll, a mainstay of the Blues’ line-up last season, was unavailable for their opening-day fixture against Hamworthy Recreation and replaced by new boy Wayne Gifford.

Gifford retained the gloves for Tuesday night’s fixture against Weymouth Reserves and turned in an authoritative performance as he kept a clean sheet.

And he looks to have impressed boss Heath enough to be named in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s Magna Dorset Premier League clash at Sherborne Town Reserves (3pm).

Heath told Echosport: “Wayne has been given his chance and has come in and done very well. We don’t have a massive squad but it is one example of the competition for places at the club.

“It’s a tough situation for Nick when there is only one place available in the side for a goalkeeper. Wayne has started very well but situations change during the season.

“Nick is a good lad and a great clubman. He knows he will have to be patient but will want to grab his chance with both hands when it comes.”

With two draws – accompanied by a couple of solid performances – to their name, Portland are unbeaten but Heath admits he would like his charges to break their duck “sooner rather than later”.

He added: “We have started okay. It would be nice to get our first win under our belt sooner rather than later but we will be patient and concentrate on performing well.

“If we do that, it will come. We’ve had two tough games but we’d like to think that they were tough for Hamworthy and Weymouth as well.

“Hopefully we will have a good season but we need to make sure that expectations don’t get too high because you can lose focus on what you want to achieve long-term.”

Striker Adam Linaker is continuing to undergo intensive treatment on a hamstring strain and will not be considered for selection against Sherborne, but Jamie Sibley could return from an ankle injury.

Blues (from): Gifford, Wells, Carter, Charles, Cranny, Marshallsay, Austin, Smith, Coggins, Etherington, Beades, Turrell, Godfrey, Carroll, Pattison, Skelton.