Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will be in an unfamiliar position at Reading – on the sidelines.

And while the popular American keeper is expected to re-assume first-choice status by the time Stoke arrive to kick off the season on August 14, the 38-year-old acknowledges he faces the biggest competition of his career to keep the jersey.

After 297 appearances in seven years for the Reading, the veteran returns to the Madejski Stadium tonight in the rare role of being understudy, or even spectator, to Carl Ikeme after being given extra time off after his World Cup trip.

Ikeme, 24, is set for his fourth successive outing of an impressive summer during which he has seen Wayne Hennessey’s equally in-form challenge falter because of a slight back strain, while the returning Hahnemann and Matt Murray await their chance.

Hahnemann said: “Seeing Carl again, he’s always been a good keeper but he looks super-sharp and on Saturday (in the 2-1 win against Charleroi) he did everything really solidly.

“Everything stuck to him. He came for his crosses and a free-kick that came over the wall looked nice and comfortable, but he made it look easy.

“That’s what he does, he makes stuff look simple and that builds confidence for everyone.

“You can make a save and make it look spectacular but if the guys playing in front of you see you pull off a nice, comfortable save, it breeds confidence.”

Just like shooting practice in training, Hahnemann admitted the competition is coming from all angles.

He said: “Everyone is competition for me – Carl, Wayne’s coming back and Matt Murray’s returning and looking sharper.

“When I came here I was one of three, but it’s nice to have four top goalkeepers at a club – no-one has that.

“Now Carl has that experience from going out on loan to two different teams last season and Matt is on his way back.

“Getting those games under their belt is what these younger goalkeepers need because they’ve got everything – they’re quick, they’ve got the spring and they all have good technique.

“But it’s the game-time that brings the repetition that they need.”

However, one vital element separates Hahnemann from the rest of the Wolves goalkeeping pack.

Hahnemann is 15 years older than Hennessey, 14 up on Ikeme and eight years senior to Murray, but knows his rivals cannot replicate what the extra years have taught him.

He added: “Matt Murray said to me: ‘You make everything look easy all the time!’ But I tell him that I just stand in the right spot because I know where to stand.

“That’s what experience gives you and it soon becomes natural.”