INTERVIEW: A great bunch of lads

“First-team football is a lot more physical, which is to be expected,” he said. “You’re also playing in front of a crowd so there is that added incentive. Overall, though, it’s just a step up.

“U21s football, as good as it is for your development, is very structured, whereas with first-team football each game is different. You have to adapt whilst being physically and mentally strong.”

And he admitted that the intensity and battles of the Football League have been something he has relished during his time with the Blues. 

“I love it and thrive off it,” he admitted. “Results recently haven’t gone the way we want them to, but we’re in a relegation scrap and you can’t let it affect you. What’s done is done and we have another game on Saturday which we need to win.

“We’re at a stage where we need to pick up points and win games. The way the manager wants us to play means we go out to win every game regardless of whether we’re playing a team at the top or bottom of the league. Saturday won’t be any different.”

As a young professional, he explained that the exposure to a first team environment has been invaluable for his career progression. 

“It’s massively important,” he commented. “I’d played a good couple of years for the U21s and coming into an environment like this is exactly what I needed. The players and the manager have all been great with me and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“I watch a re-run of every game I play in and I remember bits I want to look back on and maybe improve on. I’m also looking for elements of the game that I possibly wasn’t conscious of at the time. I look at my movement patterns and for things I should have done. 

“I can over analyse my performance at times but it’s just a case of picking out the points that do need improving. You can’t take everything into account because that’s when you start over thinking things, and that’s when it can start to mess with your game.

“I think Sheffield Wednesday have been to watch me at one or two games and I’ve been in contact with the coach there as well, which is good. It’s nice to know they’re taking an interest in how I’m doing up here.”

Speaking about the camaraderie within the squad, he told us that the group, as a whole, is a tight knit bunch. 

“The lads are all decent,” he said. “I do get along really well with Wykey [Charlie Wyke], Ste Rigg and Danny Grainger. I also live with Danny Kearns and Josh Gillies and, as I said, they’re all decent and it’s just a great bunch of lads.