This article is part of Football League World's 'Regular Punter' series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World's Middlesbrough fan pundit Phil Wrightson has suggested the trip to face Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday could help to reveal whether Aynsley Pears has a long-term future at the club as a first-choice goalkeeper.

The 21-year-old has started Boro's last two games due to an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

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Jonathan Woodgate revealed ahead of the weekend that he does not know when Randolph, who is suffering from a thigh strain, will return to fitness but it could keep him out as long as a month.

Woodgate's side have kept clean sheets in both games with Pears in the net, securing scoreless draws against Fulham and Huddersfield Town.

However, Wrightson has suggested that the jury is still out on the 21-year-old following those performances and that his biggest test may come on the weekend.

He explained: "Aynsley Pears kept clean sheets at Huddersfield and against Fulham but he wasn’t really tested and there were a couple of fumbled high balls that raised the heart rate.

"Derby away this weekend will be a real test for him and will see where he stands as a potential successor following Randolph’s inevitable departure to a better team in the near future.

"For now, though we just have to hope to have Randolph back as soon as possible."

Boro are 22nd as things stand, only in the relegation places due to goal difference.

A victory against Derby on Saturday could see them climb out of the drop zone and move as high as 18th in the table.

The Rams have had an underwhelming start to the season under new boss Phillip Cocu and are currently 16th in the table.