Oliver Norburn eyes regular berth with Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers midfielder Oliver Norburn is hoping to have done enough to keep his place in the side after finally being offered an opportunity to start.

Norburn, who arrived from Leicester City in the summer, impressed during pre-season but had featured mainly off the bench in the opening weeks of the campaign.

Manager Mark McGhee, however, has given the 19-year-old an opportunity to start alongside skipper Matt Gill in the last two games in which Rovers have emerged undefeated.

"I am happy to be starting now," Norburn said. "I just want to keep my place in the team and hopefully kick on with more good performances.

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"It is a team game and I believed I would get my chance. When I got my chance I thought I would be able to take it, and hopefully I am doing that.

"There are a number of good midfielder players here and I believe that whoever does play will perform. Competition for places is healthy and I am just happy that it's me in the side at the moment."

Norburn has been included to add an attacking threat from midfield and has been unlucky not to open his Rovers' account after being denied at Gillingham in a 4-0 defeat when coming on as a substitute before having another effort saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Scott Davies during a 0-0 draw at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

"I could have done better with my chance on Saturday, but these things happen." Norburn said. "I'd like to add a few goals to my game and if I keep bombing forward I hope they will come.

"We played well on Saturday and I am a little bit upset that we didn't come away with three points, but all the lads are happy with the performance.

"It is hard playing against teams who come here and shut up shop, but as you saw on Saturday we kept pushing and pushing and were playing good football and we were just unlucky."

Rovers are still without a win ahead of their trip to Exeter on Saturday, but Norburn said: "It will be a good test for us, but with the last performances we have had I don't see why we cannot go there and come away with all three points.

"We got our first clean sheet on Saturday and that has given everyone a lot of confidence. The back four were class; Garry (Kenneth) and Tom Parkes look like a strong partnership, so hopefully we can all just be consistent now and carry it on.

"We feel that if we do come away with three points we can go on a little run. It is early doors in what is a long season, but we know we need to start getting results."