COLIN Doyle is happy to maintain a back-seat role in City’s promotion push.

The keeper is not ruling out a shot at a top-two finish for Stuart McCall’s men, who are currently seven points behind second-placed Scunthorpe in League One.

And if that means a few more cold afternoons in goal, then Doyle is not bothered.

City’s control of possession means that the big Irishman has often been reduced to a spectator watching events from afar.

At Northampton, Doyle ended up jogging around his penalty area to keep warm as play camped in the home half.

He said: “That was a really cold day anyway and it was one of those games when I’ve had nothing to do. But I’ll take another 20 of them this season!

“You’re used to it as a keeper. It’s different to the other lads running round.

“You just have to follow the ball, watch the runners and try to keep yourself active. You’ve got to keep concentrating. You talk to the lads and give them information to make sure you stay switched on.

“Northampton was a very strange game because we dominated so much. But there’s always a danger of a break. I was jogging about to keep warm and make sure I didn’t switch off.

“Obviously you want to make a top-class save and we win 1-0 or whatever. But as long as you’re doing well with whatever you do, then you’re happy.

“Now and again, it’s not so bad to have an easy afternoon.”

Only Bolton have conceded fewer goals in League One than City, who claimed a tenth shut-out in last week’s victory over Chesterfield.

Back-to-back wins have revived the momentum after that month of draws and kept them in the running for a shot at automatic promotion.

Establishing a top-six spot is the main target but Doyle believes second is certainly not beyond them.

“We’ll take it game-by-game but it’s nowhere near over the hill,” he said.

“You don’t need to look at the top. Obviously it would be nice to win the league but second is good enough.

“Everybody has got to play each other so there will be points dropped.

“It’s pleasing we’ve got a couple of wins after the four draws.

“Look at some of the teams that have gone on runs. The likes of Rochdale and Millwall are all back in it.

“We just need a good run of games now of wins like that.

“It’s a strange league. We beat Rochdale a couple of months ago and now they are right up there with us.

“Then there are always teams that are lower down who will go on mad runs. Look at Barnsley last year.

“Even Sheffield United this season, their start was horrific and now they are top of the table.

“You just need a few wins in a row – five or six would be nice – and then see where it brings us.”

But after Blackpool’s relegation last season, Doyle is delighted his first term with City is living up to the brochure.

“It’s pleasing to be up near the top of the table rather than at the wrong end like last year,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Shrewsbury.

“You want to be challenging come the end of the season for the play-offs or automatic.

“We’ll do our best to get up towards the automatic places. We haven’t given up on that.”