NEW Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu insisted “I need to prove I’m ready to play” but is not shy to admit he made the St Mary’s move to find Premier League gametime.

The 20-year-old shot-stopper has departed Manchester City on a permanent basis having never made a senior appearance for the club, but with a big reputation.

The Republic of Ireland international has excelled on the world stage for country and in League One over two loan spells, including winning Portsmouth’s player of the year last season.

He now links up with the Saints group permanently as replacement for the outgoing Fraser Forster, who joins Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer at the end of his contract this month.

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“The biggest thing is opportunity, that I can come here and fight for my place is probably the biggest thing,” Bazunu said, asked why he made the decision to leave the English champions.

“To leave Manchester City was a big decision considering the size of the club and where they are, but it’s a brave and important one to make in my career. I want to continue the gametime I’ve been getting over the past two years and obviously I want to play.

“The Premier League is the pinnacle, everybody wants to be here and like you said it doesn’t matter if I’m here but not playing as long as I’m here. I need to first of all prove that I’m ready to play, and if I get the opportunity I need to perform to keep my place.”

Bazunu made 46 appearances for bitter rivals Pompey last season, and admits he knows about the hatred between the two Hampshire sides.

However, he was respectful to his former loan home and labelled the supporters “brilliant”.

“Yeah I know it’s a massive rivalry between two big clubs,” Bazunu added. “My time at Portsmouth was brilliant, I really enjoyed it and the fan base were brilliant.

“They gave me a platform to go and play and without being there I wouldn’t have the opportunity to come here. Now I’m looking forward to hopefully playing in the Premier League.”

Bazunu signed for Manchester City as a 16-year-old and is looking to keep himself at the forefront of the changing dynamic surrounding goalkeepers’ influence on the game.

As a youth playing for Shamrock Rovers, Bazunu was insistent instead on playing as a left-wing and had to be persuaded to go in goal – perhaps that is why he is so good with his feet.

“The game really is evolving in terms of how brave goalkeepers have to be and not just in the old sense of coming for crosses and being strong,” Bazunu said.

“Decision making and the risks you have to take, the ability you have to have with the ball at your feet. It’s a side of the game I really enjoy, being creative.

“Some people see goalkeepers as destroyers but to be creative is a really important part. You see the way so many teams are starting to play out, the goalkeepers start the attacks.”

On his time at City, Bazunu added: “It was massive, I wasn’t there for the past two years but beforehand but it’s similar to Southampton – the big thing was the people.

“It’s an amazing club in terms of all the people and how welcoming they are, I learned so much in my first year and that allowed me to have my two loan seasons.”

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