When Sol Brynn was recalled from a loan spell with Queen of the South a little under a year ago and told he could challenge for the No.1 spot at Middlesbrough, it was a huge confidence boost for the young goalkeeper.

Brynn didn't end up getting the chance he hoped for with Boro last season but understood, for the keeper appreciates it was difficult for then-boss Chris Wilder to throw in a young keeper untried at that level as his side pushed for a play-off place.

Brynn headed out on loan again in the summer, this time to Swindon Town in League Two, but his ultimate ambition is unchanged - to become No.1 at his hometown club.

"100%, that's definitely what I want and has to be the aim," the keeper tells the Northern Echo.

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Brynn has 18 months left on his current Boro deal and will return to Rockliffe in the summer hoping for the opportunity to stake his claim and impress Michael Carrick. For now, he's doing everything he can out on loan, admitting his time at Swindon "couldn't really have gone any better so far".

That Brynn is in a position to say that is partly down to his strength of character, as well as his quality between the posts.

Brynn's Swindon debut at the start of this season turned into something of a nightmare, a 3-0 defeat at Harrogate Town, with the young keeper booed by a small group of Swindon fans ahead of the next game against Salford.

Plenty of young players would crumble in such circumstances but Brynn did the direct opposite, winning Man of the Match in Swindon's next two games and, according to his manager Scott Lindsey, quickly establishing himself as a "hero" to supporters.

He won the club's Player of the Month award in August and September and has kept six clean sheets so far this season.

He says: "It's going well. We're up challenging for the play-offs and I've played every game so that's all I wanted really.

"I made my debut against Harrogate and we got beat 3-0. The following game we were at home to Salford, I did my warm-up and got some boos but I got man of the match and the game after I got man of the match, and just built from there really."

On his reaction to his difficult debut, Brynn said: "That sort of thing just comes with football. If I play well I play well, if I play badly then I play badly, everyone has those days.

"It might bother me on the night but once I get that first night out of the way it's done and over with. If you let things play on your mind then it's no good for you.

"I'm really enjoying it at Swindon, it couldn't really have gone any better for me at the moment."

This time last year Brynn was in Scotland with Queen of the South, following in the footsteps of his Boro teammate Isaiah Jones, who had spent time on loan at Palmerston Park the season previous.

Brynn says: "I'd seen how he (Jones) had done there and my focus was on playing as many games as I could so I could see where I was at, that was the priority.

"It was totally different because we were getting battered every week. You could get beat 3-0 and have the best game of your life. I still really enjoyed it, it was really good, but this year is a lot different because you might have two or thee saves to make in the game."

He was recalled by Boro halfway through his Queen of the South spell.

"I think it was to challenge for No.1, that's what I was told," says Brynn.

"It was a big confidence boost, 100%. But it's a lot to risk when we were challenging for play-offs and there's a young keeper who has never played in the league, it's a big risk to take isn't it."

This season was crucial for Brynn as he looked to continue his development, well aware of the important of regular action.

He says: "Craig Liddle and the staff at Middlesbrough sort the loans. They speak to managers and have a chat about what they're looking for. If they like what they hear then they push on from there.

"You're never guaranteed to play but you go knowing you have a chance. I obviously do my research as well but you need to back yourself."

As both a Boro fan and player, Brynn keeps a close eye on how his parent club are faring.

"The first thing I do after a game is check how Boro have got on," he says.

"It looks like it's a very positive group and it looks like everyone is enjoying it. I think Boro will have a really good go after Christmas."

When Brynn was coming through the Academy ranks at Boro, he looked up to Joe Fryer, a few years above. Fryer's promising career was ultimately ended by a brutal double leg break he suffered while on loan at Carlisle but he returned to Rockliffe last month as Academy goalkeeping coach, to Brynn's delight.

"He went through hell with his injury, to keep going like he did and now to come back and get that job, it's brilliant, I'm buzzing for him," said Brynn.

"He was a brilliant keeper. He had all the potential. I saw what he went through with all his rehab, he did so well to keep going for as long as he did.

"I've spoken to coaches at the club who say Joe is really good as a coach, it's great to see him back, he'll be brilliant."

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