Saturday 27 December 2014 10:21, UK
Simon Mignolet was delighted to get an unexpected chance in the Liverpool goal at Burnley - but conceded he must keep his head down if he is to win back a regular starting place.
The Belgium international, a £9m signing in the summer of 2013, lost his place to Brad Jones earlier this month - "indefinitely", according to boss Brendan Rodgers - on the back of some indifferent displays, making his last start in the 1-1 draw with Basel.
Jones had been preferred by Rodgers for the last three games but Jones came off with a thigh injury after 15 minutes and was replaced by Mignolet in the 1-0 win at Turf Moor.
Mignolet said: "You always have to be ready when you are on the bench or if you are the second-choice goalkeeper. Anything can happen in the warm-up so I tried to prepare myself as normal and then when you get the chance you hope you do well.
"Today we got the three points and we’re very pleased with that because it’s a very difficult ground to come to. I was still warm from the warm-up that helped me a bit. I tried to stay relaxed. I’m not a guy who gets flustered easily so I tried to focus on my own game.
"Brad and I get on really well. We work hard. It was very unfortunate for him to pick up an injury but I’m sure he will be back soon. We do our best every day in training together to get better.
"I just take every game as it comes. I’ll work hard and keep my head down as I have always been doing so nothing changes for me. Sometimes things get tough but then you have to step up. I’m a positive guy and I always try and go again and that’s what I will keep doing."