Aston Villa-loanee Jed Steer enjoys the competition for the Charlton goalkeeper jersey

Aston Villa-loanee Jed Steer says that the competition for Charlton’s goalkeeper jersey keeps him on his toes.

Steer, 26, has joined the Addicks on season-long loan deal from Villa Park and has held down his place between the sticks ever since replacing Dillon Phillips in early September.

Phillips was given the number one shirt by boss Lee Bowyer at the beginning of the season but has now been displaced by his more experienced colleague – who is grateful to have the Addicks youngster pushing him.

“It’s great,” explained Steer.

“Everyone needs competition. We push each other. Anyone in any position, with that competition, every day you’ve got to be at it in training. Every game you’ve got to be at it because you know there’s somewhere there who wants that shirt. That’s great, we push each other and we enjoy it as well.

“It’s the goalie union. We work together on a daily basis so we get to know each other pretty well. It’s friendly competition.

“It’s been good. The boys have been brilliant. It’s a great squad and that’s helped me settle in well. Hopefully we can keep winning games and team morale will stay high as well.”

Steer kept his fourth clean sheet of the season as the South Londoners came away 2-0 winners at Walsall on Tuesday evening.

A goal in either half from Lyle Taylor and Krystian Bielik helped the Addicks climb back into League One’s top six – although it came at a cost as both Igor Vetokele and Josh Cullen suffered shoulder dislocations during the clash.

“Three points are the most important thing,” said Steer.

“That’s what we came here to do. We wanted to go away with three points and move into the play-off spots tonight. To get a clean sheet is obviously great for me and the defence boys and the whole team. It’s a team performance, we’re a team defensively. You see how hard the boys work up-front. That makes it a little bit easier for us.

“It’s always nice to make saves, that’s what I’m there to do at the end of the day. I come and help when I can on the crosses. I had quite a few balls to kick tonight in pretty awful conditions. I’m happy. It’s a team performance and a very professional team performance as well.

“(Jason) Pearce and Krystian, the two centre-halves, were amazing. There’s no hiding from it. They defended everything that came into the box, they headed it, put their bodies on the line. Naby (Sarr) came in at left-back and again was brilliant. Headed, cleared, tackled. Tracked his runners. It was a very good defensive performance.

“Very good. We came here with only one thing in mind and that was it. Hopefully now we can stay with it. We’re going to miss a game with the international break but we want to stay in it and keep pushing on. Cement ourselves in it and then aim for the top two,

“At the end of the day [injuries are] part of the game. We hate injuries, no one wants to be injured. It’s unlucky. By the sounds of things two shoulder injuries tonight, which I think is unheard of. Those two boys have got great attitudes.  They’ll work hard and get back into the team.”