MATT Gwynne is delighted to be back in the number one shirt and determined not to let it slip from his grasp as Worcester City tackle Coventry United at the Victoria Ground today (3pm).

The keeper is expected to remain between the sticks for the Midland League Premier Division clash after playing a starring role in the FA Cup.

Tamworth loanee Dan Jezeph was handed the gloves for City’s opening two league games as they lost 3-2 at Boldmere St Michaels and 2-1 at Romulus.

But with Jezeph cup-tied Gwynne was given the nod by manager John Snape and seized his opportunity against Walsall Wood in the extra preliminary round.

The 25-year-old produced a man-of-the-match display in City’s 1-1 draw at the ML Safety Stadium last Saturday before saving a penalty in their shoot-out defeat on Tuesday.

Jezeph is available to face United but Gwynne hopes his cup showings will see him keep the starting jersey.

“I have had to bide my time to get back into the side,” Gwynne said.

“Snapper opted for Dan for the first game and I was unavailable for the second.

“But hopefully my performances have given Snapper something to think about for the rest of the season.

“As a keeper sometimes you can wait half-a-season to get into the team.

“I think I have done well so hopefully I can carry that form on and cement the number one shirt.”

Gwynne made 23 appearances for City last season but faced competition from the vastly-experienced Nathan Vaughan.

“My aim is to get a season where I am playing most weeks,” said Gwynne who joined Worcester from Westfields in 2017.

“In the summer there were other places I could have gone but I wanted to stay here and fight for the shirt.

“It is the biggest club at this standard so I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”

The ex-Hereford United stopper said he was looking forward to battling with Jezeph this season.

“I knew speaking to Snapper that he wanted to bring another keeper in,” Gwynne said.

“When they brought Dan in on loan it gave me the impression that he was going to probably start the season. It is down to me now.

“I have had my chances so hopefully I can carry that on and keep him out. Competition is only a good thing.”

Defenders Andy Gallinagh, James Timmins and Adam Osbourne are set to be in contention to face Coventry United after signing for City this week.

Snape was delighted to see the versatile George Forsyth come through unscathed in City’s loss to Walsall Wood after returning from a knee injury.

But there are doubts over the fitness of full-back Tyler Weir who was an unused substitute in midweek due to a knee problem.

Worcester look to record their first win of the campaign and Snape hopes for another bumper crowd after 350 supporters turned out for their opening home game.

“We were gutted that we couldn’t get a positive result for the fans on Tuesday,” Snape said.

“But we were impressed with the way they got behind the boys especially when we had the sending off.

“We want to get on the winning trail and keep it that way.”

Teenager Osbourne, who can play at left-back or centre-half, signed yesterday following his release from Premier League new boys Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of last season.

The 19-year-old had been involved with Wolves' under 18s and then under 23s.