AIDY Boothroyd literally couldn't believe his luck at Bramall Lane yesterday (Saturday), as he was forced to watch yet another 'keeper make his way to casualty for the second successive weekend.
However, he can count himself lucky that of all the positions on the field for the Hornets, between the sticks the Golden Boys are as strong as anyone, with three first-class options to choose from.
Last season's number one Richard Lee, who'd dropped to third in the pecking order over the summer, all of a sudden, was thrust back into action yesterday - and he didn't let anyone down.
Sadly, he cut a sombre figure after the game as was issued news of Scott Loach's nasty abdominal injury.
"It's unbelievable really, again it seems so innocuous as he's made a good save, and apparently he felt something in his stomach," said the Academy graduate.
"Fingers crossed it's not too bad. It's never the nicest of circumstances to come back in to."
With Mart Poom already sidelined with a long-term shoulder injury, Lee was quickly back in action to make his seasonal debut and can now look forward to a start at Burnley on Tuesday night.
"It's a crazy game," he said, adding "I found myself injured until just a few weeks back and I was really, really disappointed to find myself third choice without having really done anything.
"It's amazing; I've gone from third to playing within a couple of weeks. It's the same drill again for me, I've got to keep myself fit for one and then make this my own again now.
"I felt fine out there, but it's tough to replicate a first team game - the speed, the atmosphere - in the reserves. Generally I felt sharp."
Lee came into the match at Sheffield United with the side already a goal down - too much of a mountain to climb.
"You do all your plans, all your preparations and then it's a real blow when something like that happens.
"We got ourselves back into the game and they didn't really threaten us too much, so not to get anything out of the game was very disappointing."
Lee made one fantastic save to stop the Blades going three up, when he turned a Billy Sharp effort around the post, and he might have even stopped James Beattie's second, but for a bit more luck.
"It was a shame, it was very close range and although I managed to get a hand to it, it just squirmed through. Another day I save that and it comes out.
"I managed to make one just after that, a similar one just pushing it around the post to my left."
Burnley away is next on the Hornets' agenda and Lee looks ahead to the match - another very tough encounter.
"That's the nature of the Championship, we know it as well as anyone. We'll go up there full of confidence knowing that we're very close to being a top side - it's just getting the last couple of things to click and we'll start rising up the table."
