GOALKEEPER Luke McCormick says he is prepared to grasp his first-team opportunity with both hands as Swindon Town prepare to take on Morecambe.

Due to Lawrence Vigouroux’s absence, the 35-year-old is set to deputise as Town’s goalkeeper for Swindon’s mammoth trip to the Shrimps.

After signing for Phil Brown’s troops in the summer, McCormick has found opportunities hard to come by with just one appearance so far this term, that came in Town’s 4-0 defeat to Chelsea U21s in the Football League Trophy.

However, with Vigouroux away on international duty with Chile for the next two games, McCormick says he is ready to seize his chance in a bid to snatch the 24-year-old’s number one jersey.

“It is funny how opportunities come around. I don’t think I have ever been given one due to an international call-up but there you have it,” he said.

“Saturday is fast approaching and I’m looking forward to it. I want to give as good an account of myself as I can. I’m aware of the importance of the game for myself and the team.

“I just want us to come through the game, do well and come away with three points. There is always pressure but there is no greater pressure than what I put on myself.

“They will definitely be nerves before the game and that is a good thing. I try to embrace that a little bit.

“I’ve played at Morecambe many times so I’m aware of what’s to come, the surroundings and everything but the overriding feeling will be excitement.

“I don’t mind playing at Morecambe. I think my record is quite good there. It’s not a big ground and I don’t expect lots of people so it’s a good game for me to get going.

“Jim Bentley (Shrimps boss) will set his team out to win the game, we are expecting a tough afternoon on Saturday but we have to go there with the intention of winning the game.”

So far, Swindon have been unable to keep a clean sheet in their eight games played across all competitions this season.

Away from home, Town have conceded seven times in three contests, enduring a 4-1 defeat to Lincoln City, a 2-2 draw with Crawley Town and a 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers.

Brown’s men concede an average of two goals a game both home and away, but McCormick is hoping he is the man to help to bring an end to that unwanted run.

“It’s been frustrating not to get a clean sheet yet this season and it is something the manager has talked about,” he added.

“He (Brown) very much works along the clean sheet mentality.

"From a goalkeeping unit and a defensive one, it has been disappointing.

“I have the opportunity to go in and hopefully keep our first one.

"Once we do that, it is up to me, Lawrence and Will Henry to build on that.”

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