Carlisle United No2 on keeper's response to being dropped

The big Czech – last season’s ever-present No1 – has shown “fire in his belly” to get back in the side.

But, according to assistant manager Gavin Skelton, Holy is also displaying positive camaraderie with the man who has replaced him, Jokull Andresson.

Reading loanee Andresson has started United’s last three league games after Simpson made the switch for last month’s trip to Port Vale.

Andresson starred in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Stevenage with a series of good saves, and looks likely to remain in the team for the foreseeable.

It leaves Holy in the role of understudy for the first time in his Carlisle spell, having played every minute of United's 49 games in last season's League Two promotion campaign, but coach Skelton said the 31-year-old is handling the situation in the right manner.

Holy started the season as United's No1 - and was a league ever-present last season - but has been replaced by Reading loanee Andresson (Image: Richard Parkes)

“He’s been spot on. He’s been really good,” said Skelton.

“I liked last week when the game finished and he went straight over and congratulated his mate [Andresson].

“That was really pleasing – you notice things like that. It means that camaraderie is there.”

Holy, since being dropped, returned to the side for the EFL Trophy defeat at Accrington Stanley.

But he was back on the bench for the Stevenage trip, with Andresson set to continue in United’s goal at Lincoln.

“He [Holy] has got fire to get back in the team. And hopefully that pushes them both on,” said Skelton.

“They’ve both got fire in their belly to get in the team, to stay in the team. That’s a really positive thing.”

Andresson's superb display at Stevenage helped United to a valuable point (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Andresson’s man-of-the-match display at the Lamex Stadium was a major part in United staying in the game before salvaging a point late on.

Skelton feels it will do the Iceland international the world of good this early into his first-team run.

“It means the fans gain confidence in him as well, which is a big thing,” said Simpson’s No2.

“It’s a knock-on effect. They’ll have belief in him and he’ll feel good as well.

“What’s good is we’ve got two good goalkeepers really competing. He [Andresson] knows he has to perform or Tomas will be back, and Tomas knows he has to perform to get back in, so we’ve got real competition at that end which is another positive.”