HAVING kept two consecutive clean sheets, Rene Gilmartin will be hoping to keep his first-team place at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday despite regular first choice, Clayton Ince returning from International duty.

"I'm looking to keep the shirt," said the likeable Irishman. "I've done my bit to stake a claim over the past couple of games, so hopefully the manager will stick with me.

"The clean sheets are not just down to me, the whole defence has done superbly well. I am delighted with the way that Manny Smith has performed this season. I've worked with him for a few years and his emergence is just what we needed following Anthony Gerrard's summer departure.

"We have strength in depth in defence now with Mark Hughes and Stephen Roberts to come back from injury, Rhys Weston on the bench and Darryl Westlake taking his first-team chance with both hands.

"The real buzz for me is just playing in the first-team. Looking ahead to Saturday's game, Tranmere are a tough, physical side. John Barnes is looking to bring total football to the club and it will be interesting to see how it works for them.

"We're shutting teams down and with the ability we have up front, the goals will start to come."

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