SWINDON Town manager David Flitcroft insists Reice Charles-Cook is not just keeping Lawrence Vigouroux’s jersey warm and has a chance of retaining a starting spot in goal with a run of good performances.

Former Liverpool stopper Vigouroux was hit by a four-match ban ahead of last weekend’s clash at Cheltenham Town, with Charles-Cook promoted from the bench to make his debut and will be back between the sticks when the team travel to Mansfield Town in League Two tomorrow.

The summer recruit from Coventry City rose to the occasion in the best possible fashion, saving a penalty at Whaddon Road before Town eventually slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Since first joining Town at the start of the 2015-16 season, initially on loan from Anfield before signing on a permanent basis 12 months later, Vigouroux has known he has been virtually unchallenged for the number one spot.

However, Flitcroft says it is by no means a guarantee that the 23-year-old will automatically reclaim his place once his suspension is over and the challenge now is for Charles-Cook to keep on producing the goods to give the manager a selection dilemma.

“I don’t think it’s been about the four games, I have brought him in to have real stimulation and competition between them both,” said Flitcroft.

“I do believe in challenges and every day you have got to be challenged.

“It is a joint venture that Reice is pushing Lawrence so we get what we need out of Lawrence, but Reice knows that if he does the business and comes in and does what I want him to do, he will stay in.

“He was almost faultless the other day and I want those performances. Some people will say we conceded two goals but he was faultless in what he had to do and that’s all you want from anyone who wants to come into the team.

“If they step in and do well then they deserve that opportunity to stay in.”

Vigouroux was Town’s standout player during a 2016-17 campaign that ultimately ended in a disappointing relegation out of League One.

Although he was continued to turn in a series of strong displays in the fourth tier, there is always room for improvement and Flitcroft says working hard alongside Charles-Cook as well as teenage keeper Will Henry will provide the stimulus that Vigouroux needs to raise his game again.

“We are under no illusions that Lawrence wants to play at the highest level he possibly can. He has got to put some building blocks in place, which we talk about a lot, and make improvements in certain areas and we are trying to help him in that,” said Flitcroft.

“This is part of that. Bringing Reice in was the challenge I felt Lawrence needed.

“We have got three keepers and we are looking at a holistic approach to developing all three of them as it’s an important area of the pitch.”