Johnstone has 'thrived' off competition

Sam Johnstone believes he has "thrived" off the pressure applied by summer-signing Dean Henderson at Crystal Palace.

The Eagles goalkeeper has been in fine form, keeping three clean sheets in a row in the Premier League.

Henderson's arrival on a five-year deal from Manchester United during the summer looked set to create stiff competition for the number one jersey.

Asked by BBC Sport what it is like when a club make an eye-catching signing which will provide competition in a player's position, Johnstone said: "It's football these days, isn't it?

"You just have to deal with it and block out all the noise from the outside world, which is difficult as it's so big. You have to keep doing what you're doing daily. If people know goalkeepers, they do work hard every day. You have to keep doing that.

"It probably does play on your mind a little bit - of course it does. Everyone has their ego and wants to be the person to be playing and not lose their position.

"It's tough but I feel like I’ve thrived off it a little bit with the situation at our club. It's just one of those things you have to deal with. Every other position, there is more than one good player. In the right-back position, in the striker position - I think it's just unusual a little bit with the goalkeeper situation. In this day and age, you need two good goalkeepers because if something happens to one of them you need your other goalkeeper to perform every week."

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