Joe Lumley on his future with Doncaster Rovers and Queens Park Rangers

But the goalkeeper insists he is only focused on his next match.

Lumley arrived at the Keepmoat last week on a week-long emergency loan deal from Queens Park Rangers. Rovers hope to see the loan extended each week until January.

His contract at QPR is due to expire in the summer and his future is currently unclear, having fallen down the pecking order at his parent club.

While he expects to be given some indication of QPR’s intentions in January, his primary concern is performing for Rovers as long as his loan lasts.

“I just take each moment as it comes, playing in games and in life in general,” he told the Free Press.

“I’m looking forward to the next game.

“January is a pivotal point in my career to see where I am.

“But I’m not thinking about that right now and I’m just concentrating on the games because they will help me with what happens in January.”

Lumley has had a rollercoaster journey at QPR in recent years.

After progressing through the club’s academy, he became the first choice goalkeeper for the 2018/19 season and kept 16 clean sheets in 46 matches.

The following season he was in and out of the side and despite starting the first three matches of this campaign, he was then left out entirely.

He admits there were times of struggle during last season but he feels he has emerged from the experience stronger.

“I’ve been at QPR since I was 16, I came through the youth team,” he said.

“I played a few games here and there whilst growing up and then finally got my chance to be first choice a couple of seasons ago.

“Last year was a big learning curve for me. I was in and out of the team, I made a few mistakes.

“But I try to take the positives out of that where you learn from those mistakes and you mentally get yourself stronger.

“For any footballer but especially as a goalkeeper, you’ve got to be mentally strong.

“I had a coach tell me once that you’ve got to have rhino skin. You have to be so thick skinned.

“Last year as a tough year but a massive learning curve where I learned a lot.

“This year, with whatever has happened with the contract at QPR, it is what it is but I just want to keep developing.

“My ambition is to play for England. Any English goalkeeper, that has got to be their ambition.

“I just want to get better every day.”

Rovers have discovered very quickly that a big part of Lumley’s game is how vocal he is during matches.

And he feels that has helped him settle in at Rovers in quickfire time after his sudden move north.

“You’ve got to get to know the lads very quickly,” he said.

“I’m non-stop talking during the game. I’d only been at the club for two days with that first game.

“The lads have been great.”

*

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.