Brad Potts on a successful pre-season
First year professional Brad Potts has caught the eye on more than one occasion during this pre-season campaign with fans, pundits and management staff alike quick to heap praise on the versatile defender following some excellent performances in the run of friendly fixtures.We caught up with him following another accomplished display in Friday night's home game against Championship side Middlesbrough.
"I've played a few games and I think I've done well," he said. "I feel fit and the gaffer gave me my chance in the St Mirren and Boro games, and I feel like I've taken the opportunity to do well."
But with some big names around him in the dressing room we wondered if he suffered from the odd butterfly or two in the stomach ahead of walking out onto the pitch.
"I do get nervous," he admitted. "Even before games at youth level I used to feel really nervous before kick off, but I seem to be fine once the game starts."
"I'm comfortable playing at right back," he told us. "I used to play there when I was at Newcastle so I'm used to the position and what it involves. I'll play anywhere the manager tells me to though, to be honest, because I just want to be involved."
And on the advice he's receiving from those older heads, he said: "I've got people like Danny Livesey and Mike Edwards beside me and they help me along all the time. Peter Murphy is there as well, and he keeps talking to me, so that all helps to keep me right."
Such have been the level of his performances that sections of the crowd have already started to applaud his every move.
"I didn't realise the fans were clapping me and things like that during the game because I was concentrating too much," he insisted. "My dad told me about it afterwards and it's just good to be playing in front of all of our fans. I just want to do well for them and for me.
"It's nice that people are talking about me but I just want to keep my head down. I'll work hard in training and if I get selected I'll do everything I can to play well."
One moment which did leave him feeling frustrated in the Boro game was a moment of skill from Emnes which brought appreciative applause from every area of the ground.
"I was really disappointed about the goal but the manager and everyone has reminded me that Emnes has played at Premier League level," he said. "I've been told to learn from it and forget about it, but it doesn't feel nice when you know it led to their winning goal. I'm determined I will learn from it and hopefully it won't happen again."
The key now, of course, is for the young right back to keep the momentum going.
"The last two pre-seasons have been tough because I've had an ankle injury, but I've had none of that this time round," he said.
"It's been really good to train without feeling sore and that's been even more important with things being so intense with the first team. The tempo of training has taken a bit of time to get used to but I think I'm doing well with it now.
"Like I say, my aim is to try to get into the first team even though I know that's going to be difficult. All the work I'm doing now is with that as my target, so we'll just have to see if I can make it."
United Player subscribers can see a video interview with Brad Potts later today. For more information on United Player, and to subscribe, click HERE.