BOTH Ben Alnwick and Mark Howard have been pre-warned by Phil Parkinson that there is no natural first choice keeper at Wanderers.

All eyes will be on the team-sheet at Sheffield United as Howard’s return to fitness and his former club, coupled with criticism of Alnwick’s first half performance at Bradford last weekend raises the prospect of a change in goal.

But Parkinson expects both of his senior stoppers will maintain maximum focus going into the Bramall Lane clash.

“When they both came to the club we explained there would be competition and we wanted it to be keenly contested,” he told The Bolton News.

“We wanted it done the right way. But they are both really good lads and have proven to be important in the dressing room too.

“I knew when we signed them they were 29 and their best years were ahead of them as goalkeepers. We want them to drive each other on to higher standards.

“So every week it is a big decision to decide who gets the nod - but I’d certainly rather have that decision than be worrying that there is no cover.”

Howard is back in contention after three months out with a thumb injury and played for the development squad against Barnsley on Monday night.

There is little between the two keepers’ records and each has featured in roughly half of the season to date.

But Parkinson has praised Howard diligence in training despite having to have surgery to fix a freak thumb injury sustained at Peterborough.

The third keeper in Lee Butler’s stable is England youth international Jake Turner – who has attracted interest from Premier League clubs as he broke into the Wanderers senior ranks.

“It is great for young Jake to have those role models in the club,” Parkinson said. “Lee Butler is an excellent coach and I can’t think of a better environment for him to learn in.

“To look up to Mark and Ben, learn about how to conduct yourself, how to be a good professional, he is flourishing.

“He is going to be a good keeper for us. It’s a hard position but when you have got a third-choice keeper at 6ft 5ins who is an eager kid who trains with the first team and doesn’t look out of place it’s great for us.”