Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has paid tribute to both his goalkeepers for their contribution throughout the season.
After joining from Partick Thistle last summer, first-choice goalkeeper Scott Fox has made a strong impression in his first season with 26 appearances.
Having been sidelined twice with ankle and knee injuries, however, opportunities have opened up for Englishman Gary Woods, who signed on loan from Leyton Orient on the final day of last summer’s transfer window.
Woods has played 16 matches, including the League Cup final victory against Hibernian at Hampden last month.
McIntyre is pleased with the competition for a place and said: “Scott has been a fantastic signing. He’s made a number of match-winning and point-saving stops at key times in the season.
“We have two excellent goalkeepers and, at this level, they can get us 10 points a season.
“I said at the start of the season I wanted competition for places and we have got that. When Scott has been injured, Gary has come in and done very well. It’s important we have two goalkeepers wanting to play, not just a number one and number two. They challenge each other.”
Fox’s form for previous club Partick took him to the fringes of the Scotland squad, having earned a call-up for a friendly double-header against United States and Norway in November 2013.
McIntyre acknowledges the strength of Scotland’s goalkeeping talent and added: “It’s not my decision but Scott is certainly a very good goalkeeper.
“Scotland have some great choices in the goalkeeping department, with Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor and David Marshall, so he’s got some stiff competition.”