Ross Turnbull has been thrust under the spotlight in our last two games to cover for injuries to Petr Cech and Hilario. Now the goalkeeper speaks to the Official Chelsea Website about the last seven days and how he is gradually settling to life at Stamford Bridge.

We'd seen Jose Mourinho's pre-match prophecies come true at Stamford Bridge before, and once again he was spot on.

This time he predicted that deploying our third choice goalkeeper against Inter on Tuesday would do the Blues no harm, and so it proved as the 25-year-old Ross Turnbull turned in an eye-catching performance in the Chelsea goal.

'This story of playing with the third goalkeeper is a non-story,' Mourinho said on Monday. 'When I was Chelsea manager we played against Barcelona in the Champions League with our third goalkeeper in goal.

'Petr Cech was injured, Cudicini was injured and Hilario made his debut. We played two matches against Barcelona with our third keeper in goal, we beat Barcelona at Stamford Bridge and drew in the Nou Camp. This is not a virgin story. This happens all over the world so I don't think this is a big problem.'

Of course the characters had changed, Carlo Cudicini now departed for Tottenham and Hilario bumped up to number two, but the replacement's replacement, Turnbull, let nobody down.

Indeed had things gone more to plan further up the field, the Bishop Auckland-born goalkeeper's injury-time save from Samuel Eto'o, diverting the ball around the far post with an outstretched leg might have proved to be a match-winner.

'I was pleased with my performance, that's a positive but I'd much rather us be in the last eight,' admits the summer signing from Middlesbrough. 'We set out to win the game and go through but it wasn't to be, we didn't perform on the night. We have two other competitions we can still win though, and winning them has to be our aim.'

Reading the newspapers in the days leading up to the Inter clash, and the West Ham game at the weekend, it would have been understandable if the keeper had been a little nervous, given the unfavourable write-ups he had been given.

'I read some of the stuff in the newspapers before the game, which was disappointing, but everyone inside the club showed they had faith in me, friends and colleagues, which is what counts to me,' he explains.'That's what the press do and you just have to accept it really.

'I'm a confident person, so that was no problem. I was just glad to be playing. I want to be playing, to show people what I can do and make sure they don't forget about me when I've not had too many opportunities to play. When you get one you have to show what you can do.

'I was thinking positively and looking forward to playing, I don't know how many I will play so I have to enjoy it while I'm in.'

Given that both Cech and Hilario are now back in some form of training, it may be that Turnbull is deposed for Sunday's trip to Blackburn, though he hopes his run can continue a little longer.

'I want to play but at the same time I don't wish ill health on Petr or Hilario, they're friends,' he concedes. 'Football is funny, it's not an 11-man game anymore, it's a big squad game and people are starting to understand that.

'You will get injuries and you need a big squad. If the games continue to come, great, but if not I will support Pete and H as much as I can. The most important thing is for the team to have success.

'My chance to make a contribution is now and it would be nice to look back at the end of the season having done my part. As I said every game now is a big one and we have to step up and do our stuff.'

While game time has been hard to acquire for Turnbull, he feels the move to Chelsea has helped him find another level of performance he would not have achieved by staying in the north-east.

'I think I have improved massively, coming here has been a big step,' he says. 'There have been some hard times, I've been training extremely hard doing double sessions and it's been pleasing to show that's paid off.

'I will always work hard, but it does get frustrating when you train Monday to Friday and on Saturday you're in the stands, it's not easy wanting to get that chance, but I absolutely love it here. Training is fantastic every day, they're all world-class players, but every professional wants to play, but equally as a professional you have to stay patient and focused.'

He has also found the move south an easy one away from the field, with wife Nicola and 19-month-old daughter Maisy settling in to Surrey life. Indeed when this interview concludes, Turnbull is off out for dinner to a family-friendly restaurant before an early night at home.

'It's a fantastic area, we live in Cobham, and we're really becoming settled,' he smiles, clearly contented with his lot. 'It is different, it's the first move I've made in my career, I've had other loan moves but they were mainly staying in hotels. This is the first time the family has come with me, and it's a big step. This is a great area and we're enjoying being here.

Quiet and unassuming, the 6ft 4in stopper is clearly comfortable in a supporting role , he just hopes the chance to shine continues a little longer.

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