HE MAY be almost certain to return to the bench at Sheffield United tomorrow, but penalty hero Tyrell Belford would love nothing more than to resume his place between the sticks for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Southern Area Final games with Peterborough.

The former Liverpool keeper has started each of Town’s JPT games so far this season, with his finest hour coming on Tuesday evening when he saved two penalties in the Robins’ semi-final shootout victory over Stevenage.

While rested number one Wes Foderingham will return at Bramall Lane, manager Mark Cooper hinted after Tuesday’s game that the youngster would keep his JPT place for the games with Peterborough, although Belford himself is refusing to make any assumptions.

“I’ve not been told I am going to be playing in the JPT regularly and it’s just one of them really, if the gaffer calls upon me I’m there to do a job,” he said.

“Of course I would love to play in the games but it’s not my decision to make, it’s his, and if he goes with Wes then I accept that because he’s the number one goalkeeper here.

“It’s certainly going to be a tough battle because they’re a strong team in this league and a very tough outfit, but we are too and we have a great bunch of lads working for the cause so I’m sure we will be up for the fight.”

Belford admitted he went into the shootout without feeling any pressure on his shoulders and praised the input of both manager Cooper and the Town End faithful.

“When I was at Liverpool I saved four out of four penalties so my ratio isn’t too bad,” he said.

“I try to get into the striker’s head and make him make a decision, but there’s no pressure on me going in there because there’s a 50-50 chance of me saving one. I was tipped off for one (Filipe Morais) by the gaffer and he has done his homework there and that came off because I made the save.

“I was trying to get the crowd going and get them in the striker’s head and I think they were brilliant for us.”