MICHAEL Raynes is confident the experience fellow defenders Michael Nelson and Paul Reid have brought to Glanford Park will ensure Scunthorpe United will notice little difference should he be asked to step into the breach.

The former Stockport County centre-back made only his 10th start of the season – and his first in a month – as the Iron were beaten 2-0 at Portsmouth last night, albeit in a holding role just in front of the back four.

With Reid sidelined for at least a week with the rib injury he picked up at Bristol City last weekend, Raynes is likely to get another opportunity to prove himself in the Championship.

And he feels he is a better player for having worked with manager Ian Baraclough's January defensive recruits.

"It's been nice to be back out on the pitch," Raynes told the Telegraph. "I've had a bit of bad luck of late, but Reidy and Nels (Michael Nelson) have been outstanding.

"I'll always be one of those players who will sit back, be patient and wait for my time. I think in his first four games Nels got a man of the match award three times. You can't buy that.

"I've played against both players a lot of times in the lower leagues and they clicked as a partnership here straight away. They've made it hard for the rest of us, but we'll keep knocking at the door as hard as we can.

"I'm still only 23, which is relatively young for a centre-half. I'm learning from those boys every day, that's the way I look at it. It's not about competition, it's about doing what you can every day to make yourself a better player."

Having brought in Reid and Nelson to try to provide some stability in a back four that has regularly been hit by injuries, manager Baraclough suddenly has a plethora of options.

Club captain Cliff Byrne remains sidelined by a back problem, but David Mirfin was back in the starting line-up at Portsmouth following time on the treatment table with a thigh injury.

Rob Jones (sciatica) and Niall Canavan (tendonitis) both played 90 minutes for the Iron's reserves in a 2-2 draw at Grimsby Town yesterday, meaning when Reid returns, United have seven centre-backs playing for two starting berths.

"We could almost start a five-a-side team just of centre-backs with the number we've got at the club now," he joked.

"But competition is never a bad thing and it's not like we don't get on. Every single one of us wants the others to do well. We learn from each other and we know that there's only two places up for grabs. It's friendly competition and we have respect for each other.

"We know we have to be on our game every single day, because if we aren't, we're going to lose our shirt.

"There's the likes of Rob, Niall and Dave Mirfin coming back too, so there's going to be a lot of competition for places.

"I'm sure I speak for everyone though when I say we're up for the fight."