The stopper spoke about the fact that players in his position are now seeing an increase in responsibility to start attacks and be comfortable with the ball at their feet - something he says he’s more than happy to do.
He said, “There’s a growing trend now of goalkeepers being the start of attacks in teams, and it’s certainly becoming more common. It takes a lot of factors to work, but the biggest thing is having an understanding across the team of what the manager wants you to do.
“Goalkeeping has changed in the modern day and there’s a lot more onus on starting play and dictating tempo, I’d say it’s something I quite like to do, of course there’s a time and place for it but that’s where experience and game management comes into it as well.”
That style has quickly become a trademark of Graham Potter’s Albion side, and Steele says the approach to the game reminds him of fond times during an early point of his career.
“When the new head coach came in and I spoke to him I could tell that I already saw similarities between his ways of working and what I was used to during my time with the academy at Middlesbrough,” he continued.
“We had a very set way of doing things and it was very progressive, like it is here. It took some getting used to for all three of us as goalkeepers this year, but I think you’re starting to see from Maty’s performances that we’re starting to get to grips with it.
“He looks really comfortable with the ball at his feet as do David [Button] and myself, so the benefits of us goalkeepers getting involved in the training sessions with the rest of the team are starting to show.”
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Steele has kept four clean sheets from as many matches during his involvement with the club’s under-23 side this term. After suffering a wrist injury last season, the keeper reflected on the importance of the staff at the club for getting him through a tough time on the sidelines.
“This group at the club was brilliant for me when I was out – to make my debut against AFC Bournemouth last January and play well made me think I would get a couple of games in the cup.
“I broke the same wrist as I had previously, which made it tougher, but thankfully it healed quite nicely.
"The goalkeeping union we have here is very strong, and I’d put it up against anyone in the division the staff were brilliant too, as you would expect at a club like this.”