Runar Alex Runarsson made a successful debut for Cardiff City on Tuesday night, helping them through to the next round of the League Cup.

Arsenal goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson moved on loan to Championship side Cardiff City earlier this month, but he didn’t initially break straight into the team.

Jak Alnwick was holding down the first-choice spot in goal for Cardiff before Runarsson arrived, and that hasn’t changed in the weeks since the transfer.

As a result, the League Cup provided Runarsson with a chance to prove himself, as he made his first start against fellow Championship side Birmingham City on Tuesday.

In general, the game went well for the Arsenal goalkeeper. He made a couple of saves including a diving effort to keep out a free-kick, he made a high claim and a clearance, as well as completing 80% of his passes.

Though Runarsson lost his clean sheet in the second half, with Scott Hogan slotting through his legs from close range, the 28-year-old ended up on the winning side as the match finished 3-1.

Cardiff will now progress to the next round of the competition, and Runarsson will hope he’s made a good enough impression to get some league minutes in the meantime.

It’s never easy for goalkeepers to break through on loan. In general, you either have the starting spot from the off or you don’t, and it takes an injury, a suspension, or a seriously poor period of form to convince the manager to make a change.

But so early on in the loan for Runarsson, there’s still a good chance he can earn his spot.