Joe White says that Elliot Anderson is his competition when it comes to nailing down a first-team place. White is set to feature for the second string against Middlesbrough this evening at Bishop Auckland but has hopes of impressing Eddie Howe in training and getting a senior debut this season.
Having been unable to get out on loan in the first half of the season, and stating he feels that his days in the Under-21s should be over, White is eager to catch up his former reserve team colleague.
Anderson has been in the first-team squad under Howe after a successful loan stint at Bristol Rovers.
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White told reporters after the 2-0 defeat against Barnsley: "Me and El have been like that since I have been here. We have been neck and neck.
"We are best mates but it is a competition. We have said that to each other and, yeah, it will always be (a competition). That's a good thing, we push each other and off the pitch we have jokes. On the pitch, it can only improve ourselves."
White said he was checking his phone frantically in the build-up to deadline day to see if Steve Harper or Shola Ameobi had secured him a loan deal.
He added: "I was (checking phone) three or four days before deadline day, leading up to deadline day, it was manic really.
"I was trying to get away but obviously I knew it needed to be the right club. It's not a bad thing I am here, I am training with the first-team most days and that can only benefit me.
"I think playing first-team games would have been better for my development. But there's no reason why I can't do that in January."
White spent last season on loan at Hartlepool but did not always feature at the League Two side. He reflected: "It's where the frustration at Hartlepool came from last season. The games I was on the bench I didn't feel that sometimes I deserved to be on the bench.
"But at the same time you can't really do anything. It is a first-team environment, other players feel they have the right to play.
"But it is massive you get your loans right. You see a few players who have done really well on loan and stuff and it has made them where they are today. With loans it is just about playing games and there's where you can impress."
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