Livingston boss Gary Holt has warned new arrival Max Stryjek that he has a job on his hands to become the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
The 24-year-old signed for the Lions this week on a three-year contract but Holt plans to start the season with on-loan Rangers starlet Robby McCrorie between the sticks.
Highly-rated Stryjek, who has represented Poland at U17, U18 & U19 level, signed for Sunderland as a youth but after failing to break into the team he left for National League side Eastleigh and earned a trial with Livingston.
He featured at the weekend when Livi played their first friendly of the pre-season, drawing 0-0 with Dundee United at Tannadice, and signed for the club on Monday.
Holt explained: “He is someone we kept an eye on and got him in for a couple of weeks of training. He impressed and we have given him an opportunity and he has to take it.
“We have signed Robbie as our number one and Max has come on board to push him as much as possible and we will see.
“They know that so we will see how it goes. It is too easy to stand here and say who is number one and who is not. It is all about putting the work in to stay in the team.”
The gaffer said that the club will continue to look for players and if they can bring in anyone who they believe would enhance the group then they will do so.
The main concern is St Mirren a week on Saturday and Holt believes his players are ready for the 2020/21 season opener in Paisley.
He continued: “No stone will be left unturned to get us ready for the game. Yes, it will be different and might take a few weeks to get the really high-intensity stuff that we are looking for but we are doing as best we can and the players have bought into it.
“They are certainly producing the effort we are asking from them so we are just going to embrace it when the season starts.
“It will be different because we know there are not going to be fans there and it is just something we need to adapt to and get on with. It is the norm right now and that is what you just need to bang into the group.”
“Everyone wants to get back to some sort of normality, want to get out, want to be doing their jobs and we are in the position where we can get back working.”
