LUKE McCormick believes healthy competition between himself and Lawrence Vigouroux will bring the best out of the pair ahead of his likely Swindon Town debut tonight.

McCormick was brought in by Town boss Phil Brown this summer to complement his existing goalkeeping options of Vigouroux and youngster Will Henry.

After returning from a loan spell at Irish side Waterford in time for the new campaign, former Liverpool stopper Vigouroux has swiftly re-established himself as Swindon’s number one.

However, 34-year-old McCormick has arrived from Plymouth Argyle with a wealth of experience and will provide Brown with a more than useful back-up between the sticks.

After seeing plenty of action during pre-season, McCormick is expected to make his competitive bow for Swindon this evening when they begin their Checkatrade Trophy campaign at home to Chelsea U21s.

Although aware Vigouroux will likely reclaim his place come Saturday when Town return to League Two action away at Lincoln City, McCormick knows everyone will benefit from him keeping the 24-year-old on his toes.

“I was at Plymouth for many years, and coming to Swindon and having a fresh start really gives me a different sort of challenge,” said McCormick, who made almost 350 appearances for Argyle during two stints at the club.

“At a club like Plymouth, which is similar to Swindon, you have to have competition all the time.

“I managed to play a lot of games, but I was always competing for someone to get the shirt and I don’t see that any different at this club.

“It is Lawrence this time and we will work hard and bring the best out of each other. Throughout the course of the season, we know we have two good keepers at the club.

“There is always someone breathing down your neck. At the moment, Lawrence has the shirt and I am trying to put as much pressure on him to keep his standards up.

“Competition all around the team is what we have and it can only be a good thing.”

The Checkatrade Trophy is far from universally loved by supporters following the addition of development sides from top-flight clubs, such as Town’s opponents tonight.

For McCormick, however, it is simply a chance to stake his claim.

“I have to look at it as a football and without it, I don’t get a game this week in this current situation,” said McCormick.

“I am looking forward to the game and getting 90 minutes in a good standard of football, albeit very different to what we get on a week to week basis in League Two.”

Should he play against Chelsea tonight, McCormick make his first competitive appearance since last December after an ankle injury curtailed his 2017-18 campaign.

With match action having been hard to come by of late, McCormick is raring to go.

“I have been lucky enough to get quite few minutes in pre-season, so if the opportunity arises, I think I am more than ready to face Chelsea U21s,” said McCormick.

“Last season was the first season where I had really picked up any sort of injuries. It is something I had to get my head around.

“Of course, you are not where you want to be when you have had almost a season out, so it does take a little bit of time to get going, but I was able to come into the club at an early stage of pre-season and really blow off the cobwebs.”