He has kept eight clean sheets in 14 games for Athletic but, unless there is a surprise full-time transfer, will have to leave when his three months run out on February 23. Rachubka said, “It would be great to stay around because at the
moment it feels like we are capable of achieving something. It's out of my control, though, and the rules mean I have no choice about staying or going. Playing first-team football is great because there's something to go for
and you have some kind of control or influence over the team's future. I've never experienced that before and I've really enjoyed the fact every game means so much, especially after beating Brighton on Saturday. I'm a
Manchester United player, but I'm fully committed to this club because that's the only way I can operate. It shows up in your form otherwise and I want to keep helping the rest of the team into that vital play-off place.”
Rachubka (20) has made two senior appearances for United, but his position in the club's long pecking order is unclear. Fabien Barthez and Roy Carroll are established at one and two, but there is also Raimond van der Gouw (who is 38 and out of contract this summer), Nick Culkin (on loan at Scottish club Livingston) and, coming up fast on the rails, highly-rated teenager Ben Williams.
Rachubka said, “I honestly don't know what my situation is and, as I'm not with United at the moment, I'm not thinking about all the ifs, buts and maybes. I
watch them on TV, but only like anyone else would - all my attention is focused on the game at Bristol City on Saturday. Coming here was a chance to gain experience and prove I could play at the next level up from the reserves. Getting into United's first team would obviously be the next step from there, but it's a big leap and this makes it more gradual. I've been learning all the time by facing different situations at different times - things you can't pick up in training but which have a big effect. Decision-making is probably the biggest area where
I've improved. But there's also keeping concentration when you aren't busy, like on Saturday when I had virtually nothing to do until Brighton had a chance in the second half.”
American-born Rachubka, a broadly-built 6ft 1in, has kept Gary Kelly out of the side since being signed when the veteran was injured. Kelly is likely to resume duties in four games' time, although Athletic may sign another 'keeper on loan until David Miskelly returns. Rachubka's time at Boundary Park has seen a rise from 13th to seventh and he has done enough to suggest that cherished United number-one spot is within his compass.
The potential and calm influence will be missed, especially as three of Athletic's current defence - Chris Armstrong, David Beharall and Julien Baudet - have played most of their games with Rachubka behind them. He does, however, plan to hand a sound rearguard back to Kelly, adding, “Iain Dowie has worked a lot on the defence and we are looking solid at the moment. We are trying to communicate, work as a unit and stay 100-per-cent focused - the split-second you switch off is the time you'll concede a goal.
That's what he's saying when he gets the defence together before and after games, just that we need to focus and concentrate right through the 90 minutes. Communicating with Julien is fine because he speaks good English. It's when the Geordies (Armstrong and Beharall) try speaking to him that we get problems!”