Aaron McCarey hopes he has given Ross County manager Owen Coyle a tough decision after the return to fitness of his Dingwall goalkeeping rival Scott Fox.
Fox returned to the bench on Saturday after a month out due to a thigh injury and watched McCarey produce a man-of-the-match display as the Staggies earned a point in a goalless draw against Hearts at Tynecastle.
McCarey said: “Scott Fox was first choice when I arrived here and I didn’t play much last season as he did so well.
“I’ve been given a chance due to his injury and I’m trying to grab it and give the manager a hard decision to make.
“I know by coming in and doing well I’m giving him a problem.”
McCarey added: “It was frustrating last season but Scott played well and I’d like to think it is his form that has made me improve as a player.
“We train together every day and push each other to the maximum, which can only bode well as we have two good goalkeepers at the club.” McCarey is focused on rebuilding his career at County after a disappointing spell in English football.
He was suspended for fourth months while at Wolves after failing an out-of-competition drug test.
The 29-year-old has no idea how the drug entered his system and maintains his innocence.
But he is using the experience to prove himself in Scottish football.
He said: “I had the suspension at Wolves which was a tough time in my career and I’ve been unlucky a few times by being on loan and being recalled by Wolves to sit on the bench due to a goalkeeper suffering an injury.
“As a goalkeeper you need a run of five or six games to get into the groove and feel part of it.
“I don’t hold any regrets as I really enjoyed my time at Wolves and worked with some fantastic people.
“It was a difficult time for me and my family during the process and a tough time for me personally but the club supported me from day one and that meant a lot to me.
“There were some dark days during the suspension but I never thought about quitting.
“If anything it inspired me even more to go and prove a point and get my career back on track and I’m at a good club playing at a good level with Ross County.”
