Goalkeeper Callum Preston is hungry to earn a new contract with Crawley Town.

And that is why every minute on the pitch is important to the 20-year-old former Birmingham City youngster.

Preston has played the last two games after Portsmouth recalled experienced keeper Paul Jones from his loan at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

The former Wales under-19 international will be between the posts again as the Reds visit promotion-chasing Bristol Rovers today.

Every minute is bonus time for Preston, who signed for Crawley last summer following his release by Birmingham in the knowledge that he would play second fiddle for much of the campaign.

He began as No.2 to Newcastle United loanee Freddie Woodman, who may be younger was considered the more higher profile of the two.

When Woodman returned early to Newcastle, Preston played twice but found himself back on the bench after Crawley signed 37-year-old Darryl Flahavan on a short-term deal in October.

When Flahavan left Crawley in January, with manager Mark Yates having withdrawn the offer of a new contract, Preston found himself back in the team only to drop out again when Jones was brought back to the club on loan.

After Jones departed, Crawley brought in youngster Jack Rose on loan from West Brom but Yates kept a promise to Preston that he would play at York City on Good Friday and he retained his place for the 2-0 defeat at home to Exeter City on Bank Holiday Monday when no blame could be attached to the goalkeeper for the loss.

In fact, Crawley would have been further behind at the interval but for an excellent save from Preston to deny Ollie Watkins.

With two more when Flahavan was out at Christmas, that is now eight first-team games for Preston but he hopes to keep his place for the rest of the season despite the arrival of Rose.

And a few more good saves, like the one from Watkins, could persuade Crawley to offer Preston a new deal when his one-year contract runs out at the end of the campaign.

Preston said: “I have had to be patient. People forget I am only 20, I am still learning the game.

“I am not the finished article yet but the more games I play I feel I’m getting a lot better. Obviously, I am a bit more comfortable now playing League Two football.

“I am up to eight games now. I am only 20 years old, Freddie was a bit younger than me but Flavs was 17 years older than me. We were at a different stage in our careers but both have been great to learn off and have really helped me. I feel I am getting the benefit from it.

“It is the manager’s choice (about a new contract), not mine but I would love to stay. I have really settled down here. It is a long way from home but I really like it here so I would love to sign next year.

“Generally all areas of my game I am trying to learn and be the best I can be. I have time on my hands and hopefully I can push on next season.”

Crawley head to Bristol Rovers knowing it will be tough, despite a defeat for Darrell Clarke’s side at Carlisle on Monday.

Hopes will possibly depend on the injury situation although Matt Harrold (knee) and Lanre Oyebanjo (thigh) have a chance of being fit while Ipswich loanee defender Josh Yorwerth returns after being away with Wales under-21s.

Lee Barnard (calf) will still be missing and the game will come too soon for Jimmy Smith, who trained on Thursday as he stepped up his recovery from a broken foot, while loan striker Liam McAlinden has returned to Wolves to get treatment on his hamstring injury.

However, Preston believes the Reds can go to Bristol with confidence.

He added: “We have shown we can beat the best teams, we have beaten Bristol Rovers at home, we beat Orient at home and we drew with Plymouth. We will go there hoping to get something from the game.”