ALL managers will tell you they love a selection dilemma. Until they actually happen. No matter how many times you’ve done it, it can never be especially easy to let someone down.

The situation becomes even more problematic when it involves goalkeepers, the one position where there are no grey areas and you are either in or out of the team. In any other part of the pitch, players can be shuffled around and repositioned to ensure their presence. When it comes to goalkeepers, there can only ever be room for one starter.

At the start of the summer, Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder was crystal clear about his goalkeeping pecking order. Zack Steffen, an established US international with ambitions to start for his country at this winter’s World Cup, was signed on a season-long loan from Manchester City as Boro’s new number one. Liam Roberts, who had never previously played at a higher level than League Two, was recruited from Northampton Town to be his understudy.

If only things were that simple. Just over a month into the season, and while Steffen hasn’t really dropped any serious clangers, it is fair to say he hasn’t quite lived up to his billing either. He is yet to play in a Middlesbrough victory, and has also been injured, resulting in his absence from the last three matches. Roberts, on the other hand, has been more impressive, slotting in effectively and playing a key role in last Monday’s Tees-Wear derby win over Sunderland.

With Steffen still a doubt for tonight’s home game with Cardiff, Wilder might not have to make a decision over who trumps who until the weekend, when the American is expected to return for the home meeting with Rotherham. By that stage, the identity of Boro’s current number one will have to become clear.

“I’m just delighted with the way it’s gone,” said Wilder, when the issue of the selection conundrum was raised. “I don’t look at it as personalities, I just look at it as the need to pick the best team to get a result.

“There’s always going to be things in the back of that. Say Liam was to play for ten games, then make a mistake in the 11th game, does that mean he has to come out of the team straight away? Or is he afforded a little bit of patience because of what he’s done after ten games? There’s different ways of managing.

“We’re all just delighted because Liam is such a good kid. He walks around this place with his eyes wide open every day. He’s worked hard to get into this situation, and he’s certainly one that’s delighted to be here, understands what a great move and opportunity it is for him, and will work as hard as anybody to improve.

“He wants to be number one here, but he also understood at the start that Zack wasn’t coming here to sit on the bench. But these things happen. We’re delighted that Robbo has put in some really good, strong performances. It gives him confidence that if Zack comes in, or when he comes back in, then everybody resets and goes again. He’s been good, and that’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking for that depth and competition for places.”

The suggestion from that is that Steffen remains the number one, albeit with increased competition from a proven performer snapping at his heels.

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The 27-year-old will certainly expect to keep his place, having turned down a number of alternative offers in order to move to Middlesbrough, and Wilder feels some of the questioning of his status in the last few weeks has been misplaced.

“You’ve seen how we want to play, and if we can build from the back, distribution by goalkeepers is important,” said the Boro boss. “Zack doesn’t play for Man City without being good with his feet. But then again, you don’t play for Man City without being good all round, full stop.

“I read a couple of things at the start of the season about Zack, but you look at it and think, ‘He’s just signed a four-year deal at Man City and he’s on the bench for the Champions League semi-final, a trophy that is so coveted by that football club’. Do they understand that if something happens to their goalkeeper in the warm-up, they’re going to have to put Zack in? Of course, they do.

“He’s incredibly highly-rated at one of the best football clubs in Europe. They’re not going to give four-year deals just because they like the boy. He’s highly rated, and it was a big signing. Unfortunately, he tweaked his knee, and Robbo has come in and worked extremely hard and done well. He’s come from a different place, but I think that’s a smart signing from us as well, on a free transfer.

“It was part of that department that needed to be sorted out, and with Alan Fettis having come in from Man United, we’re really comfortable there now.”