IF a fresh challenger to Adam Bogdan’s number one spot is on the horizon, then it does not seem to be worrying him.
It is seven months since the Hungary international dethroned the king, and kept a fit-again Jussi Jaaskelainen out of the team for the home victory over Liverpool.
That set Bogdan on the way to an unbroken spell in the side, chalking up another 19 appearances, and effectively left the veteran Finn with little option but to seek a fresh challenge elsewhere at West Ham.
The joy of receiving the player of the season award in May was tempered significantly by Wanderers’ relegation, and Bogdan admits that he may not get to celebrate the achievement until he has helped the club back into the top flight.
Now he is in the Championship, his first task could be to fend off the challenge of a new signing, and the first goalkeeping arrival at the club since his own five years ago.
Andy Lonergan, who will complete the formalities of his transfer from Leeds United today, has been tipped as a likely addition as Coyle looks for a player capable of pushing Bogdan to even higher levels.
But, typically, the boy from Budapest is not letting the thought of added competition put him off his stride.
“It hasn’t been like this before but as I’m getting older, it feels like a natural progression for me,” he said. “Hopefully I can play well, keep my place and have a great season again.
“It is pretty much the same work but you do have to find motivation when you are behind someone to push them and to overtake them. It's the same when you want to keep your place, it doesn't change, you just have to give 100 per cent.”
Bogdan could hardly have had a better teacher in how to keep calm under pressure than his mentor Jaaskelainen, who stood virtually unchallenged for a decade in the Whites' goal.
The methodical approach has worked so far for the 24-year-old, who is about to enter his sixth season at the Reebok since Sammy Lee signed him from Hungarian club FC Vasas.
“It's a great feeling that all the work I have done in the last five years has paid off,” he agreed.
“It took time, but the most important thing is that I have arrived and played as a first choice keeper.
“Everything I have done so far has been step-by-step and hopefully that will work for me in the future too.
“That would mean both me and the team would progress, and get back into the Premier League.”
Unsurprisingly, with someone as buoyant as Coyle in charge, there has been no moping allowed at Euxton in the build-up to the club's three-game tour of Scotland.
Training has been upbeat, intense, and in Bogdan's own estimation, no different whatsoever from any other pre-season campaign.
But he admits relegation is something Wanderers are going to have to come to terms with quickly this season if things are going to go according to plan.
“You can't forget,” he said. “I talk football with friends and you are always going to be reminded of all these memories and think 'what if?'
“But we're in the situation we're in and we have to fight to get back to the Premier League.
“So far it has been like a normal pre-season but at the back of everyone's mind they know they have to be focussed and fit enough for the Championship, to stay on top and fight for promotion.
“When you look around, we have got a good bunch of lads and quality players, so I am hoping this will be a positive season.”
Bogdan will have to get used to sizeable changes himself this year, without Jaaskelainen or long-term goalkeeping guru Fred Barber, he will be the standard bearer for youngsters Rob Lainton and Jay Lynch under the watchful eye of coach Phil Hughes.
Luckily, he picked up a few good tips from the master.
“When I came to this club I was 19 and watching Jussi was like seeing the perfect example of how to train,” he said. “He was a great example for all the young lads at the club, not just goalkeepers.
“He's decided to move on and I'd like to wish him all the best. It's a great challenge for him.
“But we have got to work just as hard now that he has gone. ”