The competition to be Sutton United’s shot-stopper is heating up after Tom Lovelock returned to action in last weekend’s 1-0 win at Farnborough.

Alan Julian, a summer signing from Dartford, started the Conference South season in the treatment room with a knee injury, giving Lovelock the first chance to impress – which he duly did.

However, after being sent off at Chelmsford in August Lovelock lost his place to the rejuvenated Julian.

In the nine games that Julian has played, United conceded 20 goals and while boss Paul Doswell acknowledged they were not down solely to Julian’s performances, he said it was time for a change.

“Tom was particularly unlucky to lose his place after his sending off,” he said.

“He is an exceptional young goalkeeper who kicks better than Alan, is quicker off his line than Alan.”

He added: “I have two very good goalkeepers, and what impressed me the most is when I told Alan he was being dropped, he took it well and said he’ll work even harder to get back in.

“By his own admission he has not been at the form he was last year, and when he gets his chance again, you’ll see a keeper who does not want to lose his place.

“He is still wearing his knee brace, his kicking was average and I think a lot of that is down to his knee not being strong enough, and maybe the break he gets will allow him to really get it right.

“They get on particularly well in training, which is great, and sometimes you have to make decisions and I am not afraid to make them.

“But it’s up to those two to fight it out, and Tom could get sent off again this weekend. You never know in football.”