Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson says he wants to play a bigger role at Brentford and does not intend to spend his career as a reserve.
Speaking to Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RUV, the 23-year-old said he was happy with his situation at the Premier League club but was keen to secure more opportunities on the pitch.
“I train every day with a very good team, but of course I want to play matches. My goal is to represent Brentford,” Valdimarsson said.
He added: “But if I don’t get many playing opportunities, I certainly don’t plan to be a reserve goalkeeper at Brentford for my entire career.”
Valdimarsson is currently the only Icelandic national team player competing in the Premier League. He joined Brentford from Swedish club Elfsborg almost three years ago, but has not yet become the club’s regular first-choice goalkeeper.
Although his Premier League appearances have been limited, he has played regularly in cup competitions. Valdimarsson said he had not yet become anxious about his position and felt his adaptation to English football had progressed well.
“Coming here from the Swedish league was a huge step, and it took me some time to adjust. However, I feel very good about where things stand now,” he said.
Valdimarsson played in both of Iceland’s UEFA Nations League matches during the recent international break and impressed in each game. Ahead of Iceland’s home fixture against Bulgaria, he said the side’s objective was to win promotion from UEFA Nations League League C.
“We need to prove that we don’t belong in League C and complete our task in this group,” he said.
His participation in the international fixtures had been in doubt after he suffered a back injury before the break. Valdimarsson said he had feared being forced to withdraw from the Iceland squad, but a period of rest allowed him to recover sufficiently.
“I missed a cup game for Brentford because of it, but it seems that was the right decision,” he said.
The goalkeeper has accumulated most of his competitive minutes for Brentford in domestic cup matches, while continuing to compete for a more established position within the squad. He said his current routine of training alongside a strong group of players was valuable, but made clear that regular match football remained his ambition.