If Clayton Ince's two man of the match league perforances against Coventry City last term are anything to go by, then the Sky Blues have got themselves a more than able goalkeeper for the new season.
The first encounter saw him almost single-handedly keep Crewe in the game at Highfield Road where City were battering the opposition goal. But a number of outstanding saves kept Alex in the hunt before Dean Ashton snatched the winner from the penalty spot.
And the Trinidad and Tobago international came to the fore to help save his club from the drop on the last day of the season at Gresty Road, where another top class display caught the eye of Micky Adams and earned him a deal at the club.
“I enjoyed the games against Coventry last season when the fans were always good to me despite me being on the opposing side,” said the 32-year-old keeper.
“And it is really nice to know that they are my fans now that I have moved and hopefully I can give them an even better performance, which I am sure they will expect.
“The league game at Highfield Road was one of those that went in Crewe’s favour. I shined in that game but you can’t play like that every week, but it was really good to show so much resistance against a side as good as Coventry.
“I had to take the work on myself at a time that our team were struggling a bit, and it is good to know that you can step up your game and make a difference and keep your team in it.”
He added: “The last game of the season was a huge game for me. We went into it looking for a win, not a draw because we concerned about being relegated and were worried about the teams around us.
“I was aware that I was coming out of contract so I knew I had to put myself in the shop window. It just so happened that I have joined the club I played against in that game and it is a nice feeling to know that I showed the manager what I could do and that he has given me this opportunity on the strength of that.
“I didn’t let anyone down at Crewe and now I want to move forward at Coventry. It was a big stepping stone for me because prior to that I had not always been the manager’s first choice so when I got my opportunity I knew I had to put myself about and show that I deserve a contract somewhere.”
There were several factors that persuaded him it was time to turn his back on the club where he established himself in English football, not least the drive and ambition to play at a higher level.
I had a good offer at Crewe but it was a new challenge that I was looking for," said the 6ft 3ins tall player who has signed a two-year deal at the Ricoh Arena.
"I have been at Crewe for six years and sometimes you need to expose yourself to a more challenging environment and Coventry are a club that want success because they have had that in the past and want to get back to the top flight.
"So I have given myself the opportunity to help get the club back to where it is supposed to be, in the Premiership.
"The manager has impressed me with his passion. He wants to win and wants to get to the highest level.
"The players were really down in the gutter last season and then got themselves out under Micky Adams so everyone wants to do something special this year and I want to be part of that and part of a team that is pushing for the play-offs, or even pushing to get automatic promotion."
Another big pull for the player was the chance to work with a full-time goalkeeping coach, Seamus Mc-Donagh, a luxury he has never had before. “The mistakes will be spotted quicker and worked on because there is a man there on the spot working with me,” he said.
“He will know when I have dropped my performance and at this level you can’t afford to drop. You have to raise your game and hopefully the coach will be there to give me that kick up the backside whenever I need it to get me to the level that I should be.
“I have never had a full-time coach before and I am sure he will help me to improve my game.”
So confident was Ince in the move that he didn’t even bother to contact his countryman Stern John to get the low down on the club.
“The fact that my fellow Trinidad and Tobago international is here wasn’t really a factor in me joining Coventry and I didn’t speak to Stern at all about coming here,” he revealed.
“But is good to know that he is here because we know each other’s game so well and that can only help the club and the players around us to know the understanding we have.
“Hopefully we can bring some positive thinking to the club and help it move forward.
“Stern is a top class player who likes scoring goals. I think he gets a bit frustrated when he can't score but he is really building up to become even stronger." And as for Ince's own international career, it appears to be on hold for the time being.
"I haven't come to a decision about my international future yet," he said.
"I just want to concentrate on Coventry right now and trying to get a good foundation. As long as it takes to do that I will be here at Coventry and build a solid foundation before making any decision about going back to international football."