Glentoran goalkeeper Andrew Mills says he is determined to keep repaying the faith shown in him as he continues to establish himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper as the Glens prepare to welcome Carrick Rangers to the BetMcLean Oval on Saturday (Kick-off: 3.00pm).

The English shot-stopper has been in outstanding form, keeping four clean sheets in four league games as Declan Devine’s side sit top of the Sports Direct Premiership with maximum points.

Mills has stepped seamlessly into the number one jersey following the summer departure of Dániel Gyollai to Hungarian outfit Kolorcity Kazincbarcika SC, producing a series of assured performances behind a Glens’ backline yet to concede a goal.

The 31-year-old joined Glentoran in July 2024 following a decade in Swedish football, with spells at Arnäs IF, Friska Viljor, IFK Östersund and Östersund FK, before committing his future to the club with a new 18-month contract in January.

Although league opportunities were limited last season, with just three appearances that included a clean sheet on his Premiership debut against Portadown, Mills played every minute of Glentoran’s successful County Antrim Shield campaign and made a decisive penalty save in the final against Larne.

Ever present in Glentoran’s opening four Sports Direct Premiership fixtures, Mills is determined to make the most of his opportunity and cement his place in the starting line-up.

Andrew Mills said: “Wearing the number one shirt at Glentoran is a huge honour and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. At a club of this size and standing, the standards are incredibly high and that means I have to keep proving myself week after week.

“The competition in the goalkeeping department is fierce, which is exactly how it should be. Peter Urminsky has come in with real pedigree from St Mirren and we’ve got some outstanding young goalkeepers pushing hard as well, so I’m fully aware that if I drop my levels there are players ready to step in. That’s the environment you want to be in as a goalkeeper because it demands the best of you every day.

“For me, the start of the season has been positive. I feel I’ve shown what I can bring to the team, but this is only the beginning. My goal is to build on that, to be consistent and to show that I can be the long-term first-choice goalkeeper at this club and help Glentoran challenge for trophies.”

Mills also praised the strength in depth throughout the squad, noting that even with a number of early-season injuries the group has continued to deliver results.

He highlighted the standards being set daily by the coaching staff and believes the competition for places in every area of the pitch is a major factor behind Glentoran’s strong start to the campaign.

Mills said: “Everywhere you look there is quality and competition in the squad and that’s exactly what you need at a club like Glentoran. Even with a few injuries early on, lads have stepped in and delivered because the standards set in training are so high.

“Declan and his coaching staff demand intensity every single day and the message has been clear that if you’re performing in training and showing the right attitude, you’ll get your chance on the pitch.

“That creates a really healthy environment where nobody can take their place for granted. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced player or an academy graduate, everyone knows they have to earn the right to play.

“From my perspective as a goalkeeper, that gives me huge confidence, because I know the players in front of me are pushing themselves and each other.”

Glentoran’s perfect start to the campaign began with a hard-fought win away at Portadown on the opening day, before successive home victories over Bangor and Glenavon and a commanding win at Seaview against Crusaders.

Six goals scored, four consecutive clean sheets and maximum points have underlined the Glens’ early momentum, yet Mills is quick to emphasise that nobody inside the dressing room is getting carried away.

Andrew said: “We’ve made a strong start and it’s pleasing to see four clean sheets and maximum points, but we all know it is only August. Nothing is decided at this stage of the season. Our focus has to be on consistency, keeping our standards high every single week and continuing to put points on the board.

“The Crusaders game was probably our most complete performance so far. We were solid defensively, restricted their chances and looked dangerous every time we went forward. The other wins showed our character and our ability to grind out results when matches were tight and that tells you a lot about the mentality in this squad.

“The key now is to build on our strong start. We want to keep improving, keep pushing each other in training and make sure that when setbacks inevitably come over a long season we respond in the right way.”

Saturday’s visitors Carrick Rangers arrive at the BetMcLean Oval full of confidence after a perfect start to the season. The Amber Army opened with a dramatic win at Crusaders, before victories over Glenavon and Dungannon Swifts.

Mills knows he and his teammates will face another stern test against an in-form side and insists Glentoran will need to be at their best to secure all three points.

Mills concluded: “Carrick have started the season really strongly and they’ll come here full of confidence. They’ve strengthened well over the summer and added real quality to their squad and you can see that reflected in the results they’ve picked up already.

“They’ve shown they can score goals and they’ve shown they can grind out results when games are tight. With the experience of Stephen Baxter in charge they’ll be organised, disciplined and set up to make it difficult for us.

“For us, it’s about concentrating on our own game and making sure we play with the same intensity and quality we’ve shown so far this season. The BetMcLean Oval has to be a fortress for us. If we hit our levels and the supporters get behind us the way they always do, we’ll give ourselves the best possible chance of taking all three points.”