GREG Fleming is ready to follow up his surprise Grimsby Town debut by retaining his place for the clash with Cambridge United this afternoon (3pm).
Fleming donned the gloves for Town's 2-0 win over Hyde in midweek after James McKeown was ruled out through illness.
He is hoping for another slice of the action today – if the match beats the wintry weather.
The 26-year-old was brought to Blundell Park in the summer to challenge McKeown for the number one spot.
However, McKeown has been impressive so far this season and if Town's regular number one does recover in time for this afternoon, Fleming, pictured, insists that he is more than ready to deputise at the Abbey Stadium.
He said: "I'll be honest, it's been frustrating waiting for that first start. But there was not a lot that I could do because Macca has been doing so well.
"He's not deserved to be dropped and he's rightly kept his place.
"For me, it's been tough, but that's football – it's about taking opportunities like this when they come along.
"Training has been good – me, Macca and Steve Croudson all get on really well and it's been good.
"I've always been ready to step in. I've been doing lots of work training but all that was missing was the games, and I've had one now.
On his performance in that first Town appearance, Fleming added: "I thought it went okay for me against Hyde.
"Obviously it was nice to play and get that first league game under my belt at last, and I enjoyed being out there. It didn't take too much to get back into the swing of things after being without a game for so long.
"Now I've had that first game, I want to kick on and play more – we'll just have to wait and see what happens this afternoon and whether I'll be called upon."
Fleming admits that Cambridge are something of an unknown quantity to him, and predicts that Town are in for a tough test this afternoon.
He continued: "I don't know too much about Cambridge, and that's not being disrespectful, but I know it will be another tough game for us though.
"But if we can play to our potential this afternoon against Cambridge then I think we've got a good chance."
