Southend based goalkeeper Dean Gerken is bidding to give League One Colchester United a selection headache this season.
The highly-rated teenager made his U's debut at Brentford towards the end of the previous campaign.
And the 19-year-old has his sights firmly set on tasting more first team action as he attempts to become the club's number one shot-stopper after signing his first professional contract.
"A couple of keepers left during the summer and I'm number two choice right now, so hopefully I'll get a few more games this year," said Gerken, a pupil at Rayleigh's FitzWimarc school.
"I don't want to be in the reserves all year - in fact I'm aiming for around a dozen displays in the first team.
"My long term goal is to become the club's first choice keeper and if I could do that it would be a really big achievement for me.
"That's what I'm working towards and you have to set your sights high."
As a result, Gerken, who was rejected by Southend United a few years ago, has been working tirelessly alongside new Colchester custodian Aidan Davidson during pre-season training.
"It's not been going bad, in fact it's going quite well," said the youngster.
"I'm training full time, every day with the first team and I'm enjoying it. The friendlies have been going well too and we're looking forward to the new season."
Published Tuesday July 20, 2004
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