Forty-three times Simon Eastwood has had to prepare properly and be focused ready to play for Oxford United this season. And 43 times he has remained on the bench all match.

In his position, you have to have the patience of a saint.

“That’s the trouble with being the second-choice keeper . . . you’ve always got to be ready,” Eastwood says.

“But something could happen at any moment in the game, and you’ve got to be ready, so that if you’re called upon, you do your job.”

The 21-year-old, who signed a two-year deal with Oxford United when he joined them from Huddersfield Town last summer, says he can’t really grumble about not yet getting his chance, because regular No 1 Ryan Clarke has been in fine form.

So while other fringe players may have knocked on the manager’s door pleading for a game, it’s not the same for him.

“It’s a little bit different being a goalkeeper,” he says. “Obviously there’s only one person in front of you and if he’s playing well you can’t really complain much, which is happening at the moment.

“Ryan’s had a great season, I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen from him.

“You’ve just got to be patient and when the time comes, which hopefully it will, you’ve just got to be ready. And when the chance comes, take it.”

Eastwood has performed well for the reserves, and made one superb save in their 2-0 win over Banbury United in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final this week.

“Reserve games are different, there’s nothing like first-team football,” he says. “But at the end of the day it’s games, and games leading up to the main thing, which is first-team football.

“It’s nice to play some reserve games because then you’re ready to play in the first team, but nothing compares with first-team games at all.

“As a sub keeper, it’s a totally different feel. I remember when I played in the team at Bradford, when you get up in the morning . . . it’s a lot different.

“But as a sub you could come on at any time.”

Has he had a season like this before?

“I had one like this before at Huddersfield when the keeper was doing well,” he said. “It’s a bit hard because over the course of a season, normally the keeper has a patch when he makes a few faults, and when you would then hope to get your chance, but I can’t really say that Ryan’s done that. I think he’s been solid every game – I rate him highly – and I know the fans and the club here do the same.”

Despite not yet having first-team opportunities, Eastwood’s own game has developed under the tutelage of vastly knowledgeable goalkeeping coach Alan Hodgkinson.

“Alan’s massively experienced and we learn a lot off him – he’s got a lot of stories for me and Ryan, which is good,” he said.

“We’ve got another goalkeeper, Max Crocombe, the youth-team keeper, coming through. He trains with us, he’s a good keeper.

“It’s good there’s three of us training every day and we push each other.”

It’s only natural that there is some frustration for Eastwood not to have played more.

He says: “It’s hard to watch every game, but when someone in front of you is doing well, and hasn’t really put a foot wrong, you can’t complain.

“I’ve had a few chats with the gaffer about it. I’ve said I’m not angry or annoyed because if I was playing like Ryan has been playing, I wouldn’t be expecting to be dropped, which is fair enough.

“But at the end of the day it’s first-team football that I want to play, and we’ll have to see what happens at the end of the season.

“You’ve got to be patient. It’s hard to wait for your chance, but hopefully one day it will come. I know it hasn’t happened after 43 games. But it could be this week, it could be next week . . . you never know.”