INTERVIEW: I have a hunger to be in the team

“It was a frustrating season, at times, because obviously I would have wanted to have played more than I did,” he said. “However, you do learn from it and me not being in the team has made me want to be involved even more. 

“Being honest, it sickens you when you’re not involved, but it develops you as a person and it makes you grow up. You become determined to fight to stake a claim more than ever.

“The other side of it is that I’ve bought into the way the gaffer is doing things, and his reasons for doing them. It’s up to me to force my way back in and, when I’m not involved, I’ll still be there to support the lads and wish them all the best. 

“I’m not the type of person to sit around and sulk because I just want this club to do really well. Of course I’m gutted when I’m not involved but, like I say, that just makes you want to work even harder.”

“I was involved quite a lot at the start of the season and that was more good experience for me,” he commented. “The position I play is all about flying up and down the wing so it’s about coming back after the summer as fit as I can be. If you aren’t fit you’re going to struggle, it’s as simple as that.

“The manager has spoken to me a number of times and he’s been really good. He told me to get out there to show him what I can do and he reminded me that time is on my side. He said he knows what I’m capable of and he wants me to show it.”

On coming through the ranks to earn his full-time contracts, he said: “I feel like I’ve grown and developed as a person through my time at the club. When you’re younger you’re still quiet and a bit shy, and even though I’m not the most talkative person now I do feel more comfortable in speaking up. 

“I’ve definitely grown up a lot since my days in the youth team. The first team environment can be a tough one and you have to be able to deal with it. In my second year as a youth player I started to get involved with the first team and we were battling relegation. We ended up going down, and that was hard to take.

“My first full year as a professional was another relegation fight, so to have a season where we were near the play-off places brought a good feeling to the place. Obviously we want to take it even further next season.”

And on his summer break, he said: “It’s nice having time off and I’ll make sure I enjoy my holiday but, after a certain time, I just want to be playing football again. I never do very much for the first couple of weeks but I start to build things up gradually after that.

“I want to come back flying because my main aim is to be in the team as much as I can. I want to play consistently and see what happens from there. The gaffer has been really positive with me and he wants to see that I have a real hunger to be in the team. 

“I suppose the other target is to finally get a goal! I’ve been waiting a long time for one, I can tell you that. Next season it’s a definite. I’ve hit the post, the bar and had them go just wide, and I can’t wait for it to happen. Hopefully it’ll be a cracker when it does finally come.”