DALE Belford has backed Jonathan Hedge to play in the Football League sooner rather than later after the keeper's man of the match performance at Cambridge United on Saturday.

Hedge was in inspirational form as the Lambs ended a winless run by taking all three points against Cambridge.

And after seeing one former on loan Lambs keeper – Wrexham's Danny Ward – join Liverpool for £100,000 this week, Belford is sure it won't be too long before a similar move beckons for Tamworth's England C shot-stopper.

Belford enthused: "Jonathan Hedge is England's number one at this level of football and it will not be long before he is playing Football League standard again, in my personal opinion

"Let's be honest, Danny Ward was here last year and has got a move to Liverpool, but on form and ability I would say both Hedgey and Joe Collister would get in a side ahead of him.

"That is the level of keeper we have got here at this club at the moment and why the competition between the sticks is so fierce."

That competition for the number one jersey has gone one way and then the other in recent times.

Hedge started the season as the Lambs regular number one but lost his place to Collister and suffered FA Cup heartbreak when he was left out of the starting line up for Tamworth's massive FA Cup at Everton.

Hedge has since been restored as number one with former Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper Collister heading off on loan to Altrincham this week.

Despite their rivalry, Belford says the friendship between the duo is the reason why the spirits remain high.

He said: "Hedgey and Joe are great mates and, with the ferociousness that they go for this shirt, they have to be.

"Sometimes when you are battling with another keeper you can kind of lose the friendship, but both of the lads here support each other, wish each other luck and genuinely look out for one another.

"That is great to see and is a great help to both of them."

Since Collister's departure on loan, Belford has been called upon to take a place on the bench as he juggles the reserve team keeper role with his many other duties.

Belford said: "It was nice also to have my gloves and boots on ready but I'm in no way saying I want to play.

"I like to keep myself fit at the end of the day and I was ready if I was needed to come on in that situation.

"Hopefully I will not need to be on the bench again this weekend, what with being more involved in the technical side with Marcus Law's suspension, but if I am, I will do so again."

He added: "It was nice to have a more advanced technical role against Cambridge, but apart from that nothing else changed.

"All the preparation was the same as we normally do it, just without Marcus sitting on the bench.

"It will be good to get him back there in the technical area because Marcus is, first and foremost, a great guy and secondly probably the best football person I've ever worked with. He's great to work alongside and it's great for me to learn off him."