Over the years, goalkeepers have started to get their chance earlier and earlier.
Clubs have started to blood young goalkeepers as early as possible with plenty number ones around Europe now relatively young.
One man who will want to take advantage of that trend is Brentford goalkeeper Patrik Sigurður Gunnarsson.
The young Icelandic goalkeeper joined the Bees from Breidabliki last summer and immediately went into the U18 squad.
By the end of last season, he found himself on Brentford’s bench and even played 15 minutes in a 2-1 away win against Middlesbrough in March.
He’s yet to feature for Thomas Frank’s side this season but was on the bench for the EFL Cup defeat to Cambridge. Gunnarsson isn’t concerned, though, telling Visir that everything is going according to plan.
“Right now, I’m doing well. It’s been going well since I left over a year ago. It’s all on the right track,” he told the newspaper.
“The goal is to become Brentford’s main goalkeeper. I have long-term goals.
“I am still only 18 years old and am just practicing full time. The other one comes later.”
If Gunnarsson is to become Brentford number one at any point soon, he will have to fight his way past teammates David Raya and Luke Daniels first.
Raya is the current number one at Griffin Park and has played all of their league games this season, keeping clean two clean sheets in six.
Gunnarsson will have to continue developing and demonstrate his improvement to Frank, but he’s confident of doing so because of the quality of coaching available to him.
“I have a great coach,” he added.
“His name is Iñaki and is Spanish. He was with Rúnar Alex at Nordsjælland. I think he’s one of the best in the business, so I’m in good hands.”
