Ahead of this weekend’s fixture against Bradford City, we spoke to Mike Williamson.
Speaking to CUTV, he said: “It's been good in terms of training this week, especially last week it was difficult conditions, we couldn't really find anywhere to train so we just had to improvise, but this week's been really good, obviously a lot of new lads so a lot of detail that we've gone over, but I'm looking forward to the game.”
“I think the boys that we've worked with, Whelo (Callum Whelan) and Wearney (Stephen Wearne) understand it and know it already, so it's just learning relationships with each other and the chemistry of the team, but yeah there's a lot of new lads that have come in that are getting up to speed with it, so we've got to be careful as well in terms of loads, there's a couple of lads that have come in that haven't had as much game time as others, but again it's been a really enjoyable week and the boys have worked really hard.”
When asked if we’re close to any more arrivals, Mike responded: “We are, we've got a few things happening in the background, nothing I can comment on here, but yeah we're still looking to improve as much as we possibly can.”
Kadeem Harris’ contract with the Blues expires at the end of the month, when asked how discussions for an extension are coming along, Williamson stated: “I don't think we're concluded just yet, literally just spoke to him and he's keen to commit so hopefully we're nearly there, but we've still got a few things to sort out.”
After playing 246 games for United, Jon Mellish departed the club last weekend, joining Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee.
“He's been an absolutely unbelievable servant to the club, lost him at Gateshead and now we've lost him here, but I can't say enough good things about him in terms of his attitude, his application and the energy he came in with, the enthusiasm, but it was something he wanted to explore, so we've had to move and we've brought in a replacement.
“I wish him all the very best.”
In the last week, Harrison Biggins, Dan Adu-Adjei and Dominic Sadi returned to their parent clubs. When asked if there’s further outgoings coming up, he responded: “There might be a couple in the next couple of days, yes, all of the loan lads have been called back by their parent club, so again it's just the nature of the situation, but again we've brought lads in so we're good with the numbers.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with the Bantams, Mike said: “It’ll be a really tough one, they're in a good place in terms of in and around the playoffs, I think their energy is always through the roof, they want to play forward on the front-foot, I think they've got three or four lads that have come in, so I think the frontline is going to be different.
“Our focus has primarily been on us this week and how we can improve, but we've got to make sure that we match the physicality, win the battle and earn the right, and then our quality will come through.”
The visitors will be without their marksman, Andy Cook, who is set to spend the remainder of the campaign on the sidelines.
“He's obviously a huge asset for them, he's a talisman, but I don't think it changes the way they play to be honest, I think they want to play forward, they're a real attacking front-footed team, really strong in transition, we've got to make sure that we're picking up the second balls, and I think the team that deals with that the best will win the game.
“They're in a good moment, and they've brought in new players as well, so it's going to be tough, we know that, but our focus is on ourselves.”
Providing an update on injuries, Mike responded: “JJ (Jordan Jones) will be available, he came out of training today, just precaution, the ground has been quite difficult in the last week, solid frozen this week, very wet, so just precautionary with that, but hopefully he'll be fit to play Saturday.”
On Terell Thomas, Ethan Robson and Archie Davies, he added: “Terrell and Ethan are a couple of weeks away, they're both pretty much doing 85-90% of training, they've just got to tick a speed box off.
“Archie's going to be a little bit longer, I think the long-term ones, Vels (Josh Vela) is going to be similar, Georgie [Kelly] four to six weeks, and Dylan [McGeouch] and Charlie [Wyke] will be the longer-term.”
On Callum Guy, Williamson said: “He's in and he's on the bike, so he's progressing, he certainly is. I think it's just going to be day-by-day, week-by-week. He's feeling much better, but I still think that physical exertion has taken it out of him, so I can't really give you a period, except that it's good news and promising.”
Finally regarding injuries, on Will Patching, the gaffer stated: “I don't think he's going to be bashing out 90s straight away, but he'll certainly be fit enough to play a good part in it, and looks very good.”
Lastly, Mike said: “I think the noise is going to be fantastic, the atmosphere is fantastic. Obviously we just want to keep building on a really good Fans’ Forum, new players through the door are a real optimism, and we've got to make sure that we do everything we possibly can to support those lads, because it's going to be an exciting game.”
