"On the first day back in training the gaffer told me a new centre-half would be coming," he said. "I just said 'bring it on'.
"Whoever joins this club has to earn his place in the team as much as everyone else.
"The competition keeps everyone on their toes. I feel fine and I think it will make me play even better.
"It's good for me the manager has shown his faith in me. I've always said I'd like to stay so we'll see what happens over the next few weeks."