Ripley pleased to get formidable protection

CONNOR RIPLEY . . . already put in some impressive displays in goal for Athletic

TIPPED to become a Premier League regular in the future by his manager, Connor Ripley believes Athletic are on the verge of big things in Sky Bet League One.

Buoyed by a second straight clean sheet, Ripley was only worked once against Northampton, having been forced into two good stops against Walsall in the previous outing.

Ahead of the Bury test this weekend, the 23-year-old revealed he feels amply protected by the two big men stationed in front of him - imposing centre-back duo Peter Clarke and Cameron Burgess.

And Ripley, who worked with Stephen Robinson at Motherwell last season, is relishing the chance of extending further a run of nearly four hours without conceding.

"You can see it through the whole team," said the on-loan Middlesbrough goalkeeper. "When we played against Millwall, we probably weren't ready then.

"Against Walsall I thought we should have won that game and then against Northampton I thought we were amazing - really good.

"We just don't look like we are going to concede a goal with those two in front of me.

"Everyone is happy and we are starting to learn each other's games and runs and everything like that. We are very confident at the moment.

"We have Bury on Saturday now - and we are looking forward to it."

Ripley is expecting a physical tussle in Athletic's first derby test of the season, which sees Clarke returning to the club he skippered last season.

Hailing from Middlesbrough, he knows the importance of local bragging rights - "it's a derby and we know it's a big one" - and the son of former Blackburn and England winger Stuart is full of optimism, opining that the squad's cohesion can only benefit from an intense run of eight often-tricky fixtures in the opening month.

"I think it has already come together for us and we should have won these last two games," said Ripley,

"We just need to get a couple of goals to get that confidence up but we are confident at the back at the moment.

"We could be a force to be reckoned with.

"We lost against Millwall but beat Wigan and got two draws, so considering we have only known each other for five weeks, that's a good return.

"Imagine in a few months' time, when we are an established team, what we can do.

"The games coming thick and fast will help us, I think. We can start to realise each other's games and it can be really beneficial."