Justham had talks with Hatters boss after Mitchell signed

The Town number two had hoped for an extended run in the side when Mark Tyler was allowed to join Peterborough in March, but with Jones bringing in the Derby County youngster, he remained on the bench once more.

After the arrival of Mitchell, Justham said: “I’ve spoken to the manager when he bought Jon in, he made the decision to bring Jon in which is fine.

“What me and the manager talk about I’m not going to say too much but obviously he said to me you know the situation, you’ve been training well, just keep on your toes.

“When he actually told me Jonno was coming in, he said I need you to be ready in case something happens, injury or whatever.”

Justham had known a move back to his former club for Tyler was in the pipeline, as he said: “I know Mark really well, I still talk to him now, he’s a good guy and helped me a lot here.

“You hear rumours about it and I do speak to Mark so I knew something may happen, but you know if Mark goes he’s (Jones) bound to bring another keeper in.

“Like I said to Jonno, I welcomed Jonno with open hands because he’s a top man.

“It’s not necessarily you get the hump with someone for coming in because he’s still professional, I’m professional, and I’m delighted he’s getting his chance on the bench at Derby because he’s a very good young goalkeeper.”

However Justham was back in the starting line-up for Town’s 2-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley no Saturday, his 11th appearance of the season.

Although Jones has confirmed he will be looking to bring a new goalkeeper in during the summer, the 25-year-old made it clear he wants to stake a claim to be viewed as first choice.

He said: “Now I’ve got to look at it as my chance and I’ve told the manager if possible I want to be number one here.

“So if I can try and prove that and do that I’ll be happy and if not then I’ll see what happens.

“If that’s the way the manager decides to go I’ll be delighted with that, and hopefully I can try and prove myself in the next six games and give him no choice and hopefully do all right for the club too.”

Jones himself was impressed with Justham’s return to the side and more importantly, his response to another keeper coming in.

The boss said: “He’s showed a good reaction, he’s come back and the pleasing thing for me was before he came back in, his attitude to adversity if you like, or to a set back or knock back, was he showed a real positive attitude.

“He deserves his chance and I was pleased for him.”

Although Justham isn’t one of a number who are out of contract in the summer, he knows he is playing for his place in Jones’ plans at Kenilworth Road, adding: “We all are, I am as well, I’m playing for the future, so are 10 others and the rest on the bench, we’re all playing for our futures.

“You never know what could happen in the summer, anything could happen.

“I have another year left, but I’m not looking past the six games. Hopefully I can do well and see what happens.”