THINGS haven't exactly been routine and plain sailing for Mark Travers since he joined up with Middlesbrough on loan in January.
By no means is that a criticism. The goalkeeper has done well since his arrival but the circumstances have been challenging to say the least.
He linked-up with Boro at a time when their form had nosedived and his first four games ended in defeat. And Travers hasn't had the opportunity to get to know the defence protecting him, for it's changed every week. Boro's backline has been decimated by injuries and in the last two games the two players in front at centre-half have been midfielder Jonny Howson and left-back Neto Borges.
And yet despite the position Boro have found themselves in, Travers has still shown why he was identified as the Championship club's No.1 transfer target in the winter window after keepers Sol Brynn and Seny Dieng were both sidelined with serious injuries.
“It’s not been easy for him coming in when there's so much chopping and changing with the position and personnel in front of you," admitted boss Michael Carrick.
"That's a challenge in itself. I think it’s 18 or 19 times throughout the season we’ve had to change the centre back pairing. That's a lot. I’d think other teams in the league will probably do it like three or four times maybe, at a guess.
"That provides a challenge, especially for a goalkeeper. And we've had four keepers as well!
"He's got a really good character. He's a good goalkeeper and he's had to make some good saves for us. That’s what we obviously brought him in for and hope for. We don't want him to have to make saves, but when needed, and especially (at Luton) to contribute to a clean sheet, is a big one for us."
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Travers had what was perhaps his best game so far at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, coming to Boro's rescue on several occasions against a dominant Luton, especially in the first half.
Carrick said: “Mark made some big saves when we needed him, but he came for some crosses as well, and had a really good presence in the box from set plays and corners, and we needed that.
"It was a shared contribution and he had to make saves for us which were important."
This an important loan spell for Travers ahead of what could be an interesting summer transfer window.
Travers was allowed out on loan in January after Kepa Arrizabalaga had established himself as Bournemouth's No.1. But the Chelsea keeper's loan move at the Vitality Stadium expires in the summer and it's said there's no obligation to buy in the contract.
Should the Cherries opt against signing Arrizabalaga on a permanent deal, however, that doesn't necessarily mean Travers will get the gloves back.
Reports this week claimed Bournemouth are lining up a summer move for Caoimhin Kelleher, who is likely to leave Liverpool.
Where that would leave Travers isn't clear. And it's not clear whether Boro would look to make the keeper's deal permanent, despite his good showings so far. Or whether they could afford it.
Brynn is expected to be back fit before the end of the season, and while the Teessider might not go straight back into the side while Travers remains at the Riverside, he's very well thought of at the club and had not long won a place in the side when he dislocated his shoulder on Boxing Day.
Brynn will likely get another opportunity to nail down the No.1 spot but might have to wait until the start of next season.
The long-term future of Seny Dieng is unknown, with the Senegal international set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious Achilles injury. Tom Glover is currently deputy but he'll be moving into the final year of his contract in the summer and might well feel he needs to move and play regularly to ensure he keeps his place in the Australia squad ahead of next summer's World Cup.
