NEW keeper Nick Draper insists he is not clocking up hundreds of miles in his car to merely sit on the bench for Worcester City.

The Grimsby-based stopper is set to face stiff competition from West Bromwich Albion loanee Ethan Ross for the number one jersey this season.

But the 22-year-old, who will make a 150-mile journey for City’s season opener against Harrogate Town today (3pm), believes the time has come for him to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Prior to joining City, manager Carl Heeley had expressed concerns over the distance the former Grimsby Town player had to travel to get to games.

But Draper says he is happy to make the five-hour round trip for matches at the Victoria Ground and says several of City’s away fixtures will be closer to his home in Humberside.

“The travelling is not an issue,” he said. “It’s a two-and-a-half hour drive but it’s more than doable.

“I just want to play football, so I will drive anywhere.

“I will either just go straight to games or meet the bus at a stop somewhere (for away games) but most of the clubs are close to me anyway as Boston, Gainsborough, Harrogate and Alfreton are all not that far away from me.

“It’s only home games that are far and when we play teams like Brackley or Tamworth but it’s not a problem.”

During his career, Draper has had stints at Lincoln City, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Grimsby.

He signed for Alfreton Town last summer in a bid to nail down a starting spot but, after the Reds snapped up 39-year-old ex-Burton Albion and Bradford City keeper Matt Duke, opportunities dried up and he went out on loan to Scarborough.

Draper admitted he had offers from “a couple of other clubs” this summer but he said National League North side City had the “best pedigree”.

“After leaving Alfreton, I didn’t have a club, so when I heard Worcester needed a keeper I got in touch with Carl (Heeley) and had a trial,” said Draper, who has featured in several of City’s pre-season games.

“It is a long way to travel but sometimes you have to do it when you feel it is the best fit for you.”

Ross, who has signed a long-term loan deal, will also be fighting for the gloves having spent much of last season as second choice to Nathan Vaughan at Worcester.

But Draper added: “I have come here to play. Most managers have said to me that now, at the age of 22, it is your time to play.

“I feel I have learnt pretty much all I can from being a number two, so I really want to get into the number one shirt.

“It is always good to have two good keepers as we will keep pushing each other and it will stop us from getting complacent.

“I want to kick on, play games here, do my best for Worcester and see where that takes us.”