Alex Cairns is keeping his Leeds United goals 'under wraps' after signing a new two-year deal at Elland Road but has vowed to be ready in case he's called upon by Daniel Farke.
In 2024 Cairns returned to the club where his career began to fill the role of third-choice goalkeeper.
Cairns ticked a box as a home-grown player but Farke has spoken on numerous occasions about how important the veteran is around Thorp Arch and on matchdays.
The 32-year-old keeper's contribution has thus far not been to step onto the pitch and make saves but he believes he can play a part in making sure whoever does play is fully prepared.
“The first thing for me [after returning] was to obviously come into the group, get used to the group and let the group get used to me,” he told leedsunited.com
“Obviously I was coming from a lower league but still I needed them to respect me as a goalkeeper and had to do that by training hard, playing in the pre-season games.
“I tried to do that by keeping my head down and grafting hard. That obviously helps with the lads on the pitch because if I am going that extra mile, they then have to go above and beyond to be able to train harder than me, which I feel like is a positive effect on the group.
“I will be ready to do that. That is something that I pride myself on”
“And I feel like throughout my career, I have always made sure my training is at the top level, the highest level it can be so that I can go and always be ready. Right now, if the manager and the club want me to start the first game of the season, I will be ready to do that. That is something that I pride myself on.”
Cairns says the players who come through the club's academy have a deep understanding of what it means to be at Leeds United, so he's over the moon to sign a new deal.
“I am obviously delighted!” he said. “When I signed here two years ago, it was a case of the first goal was to help get the club back to the Premier League. The second goal was to stay in the Premier League. Now, there are probably a couple more goals that I want to reach that I will keep under wraps for now. Hopefully when we make them, we will be talking and saying we did that.
“I might not have played hundreds of games for the club but I have always felt like it is my home. It is where I learnt my trade properly and I will be forever grateful for this club for where I am right now.
“The lads that have actually been born and raised in this, we get it. We get the highs, we get the lows and we get the emotional roller coaster that is Leeds United. You can’t help but love it. It has been amazing and long may the good times continue.”
Continue Reading