LAWRENCE Vigouroux’s permanent arrival may have doubled the manpower in a somewhat-threadbare Swindon Town goalkeeping department but the former Liverpool goalkeeper reckons he still faces a tough fight to make the County Ground number one shirt his own.

The summer departures of Ty Belford, on loan to National League Southport, and highly-rated goalkeeping coach Steve Hale to Forest Green Rovers, temporarily left teenage gloveman Will Henry holding the fort before Vigouroux’s arrival on a three-year deal.

The Chilean will be expected to start between the sticks when the campaign kicks off early next month, but Vigouroux insists he will be driven to that target by his friendly competition with Henry.

The teenager impressed towards the end of last season, following Vigouroux’s return to Anfield because of a thigh injury, making a penalty save on his debut at Rochdale - and the new permanent arrival is prepared for a battle for the nod from manager Luke Williams.

“Will is a great lad to be fair. I’ve just been working with him. He’s looking good,’’ said Vigouroux.

“It’s hard - we haven’t got a goalkeeping coach but we’ll be getting one soon, I hope.

“We’ve been doing normal goalkeeping stuff and joining in with the running with the other players which is important (to) get that fitness and sharpness back.

“As much as he (Henry) will learn off me, I’ll learn off him. As goalkeepers you have to improve every day.

“He came into the side for the last two or three games of the season and did really well. I’m really happy for him and it will be a really big fight for the number one shirt this season.

“It’s up to the manager (who gets picked). I’m happy we have a good relationship together and help each other a lot.

“So we can both be fighting each other and pushing each other a lot and I think that will only benefit the club, so it’s a good thing to have.’’ Vigouroux is also revelling in his country’s Copa America win, which saw them send Lionel Messi into international retirement after a penalty shootout success in the United States earlier this week.

“It was good,’’ said the Chile Under 20 gloveman. “We showed some great heart to get all the way to penalties especially as we had 10 men for about 15 minutes in the first half.

“They call it the golden generation and you can see why. We didn’t win anything for 99 years and we’ve won two Copa Americas in two years.

“I am happy to be Chilean. We have got a great squad. It will be hard for me to break in but I’ll try my hardest.’’