IT’S NOT only Michael Collins who is experiencing a steep learning curve in the opening weeks of the season.

For Joe Riley, it’s been an eye-opener since swapping the under-23 ranks of Manchester United for the Valley Parade spotlight.

The young defender is already fielding some of the brickbats that come your way in the uncompromising senior environment.

His withdrawal from the fray at Southend on Saturday was the second league game running when Riley has been subbed at half-time.

Throw in a saved penalty during the shoot-out defeat against Macclesfield in the Carabao Cup and it’s been a testing period.

But Riley will not shy away from the more testing moments in his first-team education.

“Coming off at half-time was annoying but we have more games where I can prove myself and earn more game time,” he said.

“It is part of being a player, all experience. All the lads said after the game the other day, ‘Keep your head up, there are more games to come’.

“I knew that. You don’t overthink it and crack on.

“It’s football. If the head coach thinks the decision to change the formation and bring someone else is right, then you respect that.

“The games are coming thick and fast. To miss a penalty in the shoot-out was obviously a negative but you use that to drive you forward for the next game.

“With the squad we have got, everyone will get their chance.”

The events of the last 10 days have acted as a reminder for Riley about the high stakes of playing first-team football. He is confident he will emerge stronger for it.

Riley added: “The more games you have, you realise that. Things don’t always go the way you want them but that is football.

“It also shows the competitiveness of playing in League One - in men’s football.

“Of course, you want to win in the under-23s but there is nothing really pushing you.

“Now there is. You can see that in how the boys are raring to go and how the fans get behind us.”

Riley is looking forward to sampling the Valley Parade atmosphere again for Burton’s visit.

For someone who came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford, the 21-year-old believes there are similarities in terms of the size of club for the division they are in.

“To come into League One hasn’t needed me to adjust, not at all,” he said. “A lot of people would say that Bradford are the Man United of League One.

“It’s a big club and the support we have is unbelievable. Plus, there are all the facilities you need at a club.”