RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted the battle for the number one Saints shirt is between Gavin Bazunu and Alex McCarthy, labelling the young Irishman “a big talent”.
Goalkeeping coach Andrew Sparkes has been working with a strong four-man group during pre-season, also including Willy Caballero, 40, and Mateusz Lis, 25.
While Lis featured briefly during the opening friendly with RB Leipzig and Caballero played for the B team this weekend, it is Bazunu and McCarthy racking up most minutes.
The pair each played 45’ of the first and have taken it in turns to complete a full 90 minutes in the following matches, both keeping clean sheets in 0-0 draws.
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Bazunu, a 20-year-old summer signing from Manchester City, had also impressed versus RB Leipzig and is yet to concede – while McCarthy shipped three in an unfortunate second-half.
Asked if the contest is between those two to start in his Premier League sides, Hasenhuttl responded: “Yeah, for sure.
“I think Gavin is a big talent and I was absolutely happy with what he showed today. On the ball he was calm and he is a very dynamic goalkeeper.”
Bazunu, who was forced into a stellar save inside seven minutes of his first match in Austria, had less to do during the 0-0 draw with Championship Watford on Saturday.
However, the international’s command of his area was routinely tested – while he exhibited a calmness on the ball that could help Saints operate out the back this campaign.
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