Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper says the attitude of those players not seeing regular game time is a “real strength” of the group.
It comes as he has a selection dilemma over who should play in goal, with Ethan Horvath having taken his chance to impress.
The summer signing got an opportunity while Brice Samba was suspended for three games, and kept his place for Monday night’s FA Cup triumph over Huddersfield Town.
Cooper remains coy about whether that means there has been a longer-term change over his first-choice goalkeeper. But he has praised the work ethic of all of those who are fighting for a place in the team.
“I see it as a really positive situation with both goalkeepers - I say both, but Jordan Smith plays a big part in the group as well, if you’re talking about someone who shouldn’t go under the radar,” said the Welshman.
“I see it as a very competitive, hard-working goalkeeping department at the moment. Not that we separate them too much, because we involve them a lot in our work, with Danny Alcock, the goalkeeping coach.
“I just see it as it should be - goalkeepers working really hard and pushing each other to try to get in the team. It’s as simple as that, really.
“That’s how it should be, not just for the goalkeepers but for all positions. That’s how it is at the moment.
“The bit that pleases me the most is the lads who haven’t played so much and the players I’ve maybe let down a little bit with game time and opportunities. The likes of Gaetan Bong, Cafu, Toby (Figueiredo) and people like that couldn’t be working any harder or giving any more.
“I’m sure they have days where they get a bit frustrated and they get a bit down-hearted, but they don’t show it. I think that’s a real strength of the group at the moment.”
Forest host Reading on Saturday looking to keep up their push for the play-offs, with five points currently separating them from sixth-placed Luton Town.
It is not just between the posts where Cooper will have a decision to make this weekend.
Sam Surridge found the back of the net against the Terriers on his first start in the Garibaldi, while trying to accommodate the in-form midfield trio of Ryan Yates, James Garner and Jack Colback regularly presents a conundrum.
“They are nice problems, definitely. The more of them, the better, in some ways,” the head coach added.
“Of course sometimes you have to have difficult conversations with players, but I accept that’s my job.
“I think that’s healthy. A competitive environment is a healthy one, so the more of that, the better.”
