Back-up keeper Scott Flinders ready to join the fray for Mansfield Town
But the 38-year-old has no qualms about a rare first team outing for a club he has grown to love over his two and half years as back-up to Pym.
“I will prepare the same as always to the same standards I always set myself. You have to be ready to play at any time,” he said, having been called on to replace Pym midway through the first half in the last game at Wrexham.
“If Pymy is ready I will help him as much as I can like I normally do before a game.
“But if he is not quite right then I will step up and hopefully put in a good performance.
“We have a great relationship and a lot of respect.
“People talk about how good Christy has been here for the past two seasons, but he was outstanding in the first season too.
“He has probably been the most consistent player in this team for the last three seasons – and he just keeps getting better.
“He is only 29 so he has a lot of years ahead of him. I am here to help him and push him.”
Flinders said the manager sets the highest standards he has experienced.
“For me, the standards set here are the best I have seen in my career – and that is driven from the top with the gaffer demanding those standards every single day,” he said.
“Whoever comes into this group they have to buy into the culture created here. It has got better every season I have been here.
“I came here from League One at Cheltenham and after a few days I saw the standards in training were a lot better than I had been used to.”
On not being first choice keeper, he said: “At my age and the role I was given when I came to the club, I knew what I was coming into.
“But it’s always nice to play the games and I have been happy with my form.
“Day to day you push yourself to be consistent and when called upon you have to be ready to put in performances and help the team pick up results.
“I absolutely love it here. It’s probably the last club I will have before I go into the coaching side.
“But I have loved every minute of it.
“It is hard coming into a number two role when you have always been a number one.
“But at the stage I am at now I don’t think any other club could have given me this.”
On his unexpected call into action at Wrexham he said: “Putting in the performance that we did, we were gutted in the dressing room to not come away with at least a point.
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