Ted Cann on his Cameron Dawson duel and finally getting his Rotherham United chance

Ted Cann is talking about his relationship with Cameron Dawson in his debut season at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The former has just ousted the latter from the team in the fight for the goalkeeper's jersey, but there is no bad blood between the pair.

“We get on really well,” said the shot-stopper who moved to the Millers in June after parting company with West Bromwich Albion. “I really enjoy working with him. Since I've been here, he's been brilliant with me, really supportive, really positive with me. I couldn't ask for much more ”

Cann is in his mid-20s but is a late starter in terms of matchday action and the last four League One games have been his first taste of EFL football.

His previous experience had been restricted to non-league loans while he was with the Baggies and four Vertu Trophy outings for Matt Hamshaw's team.

That hasn't stopped him settling in quickly. He's conceded only two goals and recorded two shut-outs in his recent quartet of appearances, and he's not scared to make his voice heard in the heat of battle.

“You've got to have that whole relationship with the back four - plenty of talking on the pitch,” he said. “You've got to know each individual player - their strengths, their weaknesses - and make sure they're doing what they should be doing. That helps to keep me switched on.

“You want the defence to do your job for you, really. I want to have quiet games. But when I'm called upon, I can do my part. That's all I've been trying to do - come in, be steady, get clean sheets.”

The new boy accepted he was being signed initially as the back-up keeper and has had to to be patient for seven months. Dawson had been a league ever-present until a New York error against Doncaster Rovers last month led to a winning goal for the visitors and cost him his place.

“I knew in the summer what position I was coming into,” Cann said. “I've been working all season for this opportunity. It's come now and I've just tried to do as much as I can to help out the team.”

Having waited for well over six years for a league debut, the man who joined West Brom as a teenager is determined not to let his big chance slip.

Saturday's visit of Bolton Wanderers will be match number five and the 25-year-old will be seeking clean sheet number three.

His mission: “I've got to do everything in my power to keep that shirt.”