Josh Keeley is one win away from facing the best goalscorer in England, Erling Haaland, having proven a dab hand at finding the net himself.
Tottenham fans have been enamoured with their new man between the sticks in recent weeks but a shot-stopper already on their books has generated even bigger headlines.
Keeley signed on loan for League One Leyton Orient from Spurs in the summer in a bid to gain more senior first-team minutes.
The 21-year-old was nominated for the division’s Player of the Month award in December but has made a bigger mark in the FA Cup.
Orient have enjoyed a club-record run of seven straight clean sheets – with Keely the No.1 for all but one of those games.
However, the Irishman is not just content with keeping goals out – he also got on the scoresheet himself in the FA Cup second-round.
With the O’s on the brink of being knocked out at home by National League side Oldham Athletic Keely equalised in the ninth minute of stoppage-time with a bullet header from a corner.
During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT’s Hawsbee & Jacobs, the Tottenham loanee has lifted the lid on his FA Cup heroics.
“I wouldn’t say I go up often,” Keely joked. “It wasn’t bad [his header]. It wasn’t bad at all – It was the last minute so I just said I’d get myself up there and be an extra number in the box.”
Keely continued: “It’s so rare. That’s why everyone gets so hyped about it, you know what I mean?
“I used to be an outfielder when I was younger, I wasn’t always a goalkeeper so, I kind of always had a bit of an instinct of being in the box.”
Keely’s first-ever professional goal was enough to send the match to extra-time, where Dan Agyei’s strike secured a 2-1 victory for Orient which bagged the £75,000 jackpot for second-round victors.
Even greater riches now potentially await the O’s, with a potential blockbuster visit of Premier League champions Manchester City.
Orient’s scheduled third-round meeting with Derby County was postponed over the weekend due to inclement weather.
The two teams will instead face-off on Tuesday – now armed with the knowledge that a home clash with Pep Guardiola‘s side is the prize.
However, Keeley might not have been involved at all following speculation his parent club Spurs would recall him.
Tottenham’s first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario remains out with a long-term ankle injury, with back-up Fraser Forster then being wiped out by a sickness bug.
Asked whether he was wondering whether he was going to get the call back at one point, Keeley told talkSPORT: “Yeah, it was a bit of a mad situation, to be fair.
“But I didn’t really know what to expect. I think more stuff was in the media than being told to me.”
Brandon Austin, who joined Spurs as a 16-year-old in 2015, ultimately made his first competitive appearance for the club in nine years during their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.
He added: “I haven’t had a chance to speak to him, to be fair. But he’s been at the club for a long, long time.
“For him to get the chance to play, and play the way he did, is brilliant for him. Brilliant.
Keeley will now get the opportunity to serve up a timely reminder of his qualities as Orient look to continue their recent fine form.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, who originally played as a centre-half, trained with St Patrick’s Athletic first team at age 17.
It was there that he formed a close bond with the goalkeeping coach Pat Jennings Jr – the son of the legendary Spurs goalkeeper.
Keeley officially joined Tottenham in July 2022, and signed a new contract with the Lilywhites before moving to east London.
He added: “I’m absolutely loving it. Since I came in the door [at Orient], the whole club’s just a proper close family.
“Obviously, my loan ends up in the summer. So, come summertime, we’ll see what happens then.”
First up is the visit of Derby but Orient manager Richie Wellens will be in no doubt of who to call upon if he needs a goal late on.
Can he do it again? – “Why not? I don’t see why not!”