JAMIE Young has no intention to settle for second best in his bid to oust Michael Theo as Brisbane Roar’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Brought to the club to put genuine pressure on Theo, arguably the A-League’s most decorated player, the Brisbane-born former England under-20 gloveman doesn’t plan to disappoint the champions.

“I haven’t come halfway around the world again to be sitting on the bench,” Young said in reflecting on his decision to return home after 12 years in the UK.

“I want to be playing for the best team in the country.”

It’s an aim easier said than done considering Theo has won five A-League championships, three of them with the Roar, and has easily seen off the challenges of Andrew Redmayne and Matt Acton during his four seasons in Brisbane.

But Young, who turns 29 this month, has experience that Redmayne and Acton did not have during their time at the Roar.

“Mick’s a well-credentialed keeper in this league but I like to think what I can give him is very stiff competition,” he said.

“He’s a great guy and I get on really well with him, but there’s certainly a lot of competition in training and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Every day I’ll be banging on that door to take his spot.”

Young is no stranger to the Roar, having trained with the club last year before returning to England for one final season abroad with conference club Hayes & Yeading United.

It was the seventh club Young had played for since moving to Britain in 2002.

He also had mixed stints with Reading, Rushden & Diamonds, Wycombe Wanderers, Aldershot Town, Basingstoke Town and Whitehawk.

“It’s an utterly ruthless place, for sure,” Young said.

“But I played 250-odd games, and I think I made the most in what I was given over there.

“I played in some really good games over there with some really decent players. I was satisfied with the opportunities that came my way.

“Probably the thing that went against me was not being six foot five (195cm), but the style in Australia does suit me.

“It’s nice to play in a league that caters for me, rather than against me, and hopefully I can really stamp my authority.”

Courtesy of his British heritage, Young represented England at youth level, with Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill among his teammates.

“That was fantastic. A lot of incredible players I played with have gone on to play in the World Cup and in the Champions League,” he said.

“It was a great experience and something that you can’t buy, that life experience.

“When you play the amount of years I’ve played in the game, I think I can bring experience here as well.”

Roar coach Mike Mulvey stressed that Theo remained his preferred No.1 and was set to play in Tuesday night’s FFA Cup clash against Stirling Lions in Perth.

But Mulvey was in no doubt that Young would push Theo this season.

“We’ve got two very good goalkeepers. Jamie’s got a great attitude and we’re delighted to have him,” Mulvey said.