Striker on his return to the action
Paddy Madden came off the bench on Saturday to bring his pre-season injury frustration to an end with a committed performance and a late goal which sealed an important victory for the Cumbrians.We spoke to him just after the full time whistle had blown to get his reaction to what was an amazing game.
He said: "I'm over the moon to have scored a goal.
"I've only been back in training for two days and I wasn't even expecting to be on the bench. The gaffer gave me the nod and I think this was written in the stars today.
"All I had to do was keep my concentration and get a good connection, and thankfully it went in."
Having missed an earlier chance which looked odds on to bulge the back of the net, he added: "I actually thought my first chance had gone in. It looked like it was sneaking into the bottom corner and I was ready to wheel away and celebrate, but it just crept wide somehow.
"It was a great result though, and a good way to bounce back after the result on Tuesday. I thought the lads were immense from start to finish. We looked lively and we deserved to win."
'Response' was the buzz word around Brunton Park last week following the disappointing Tuesday night performance but the striker insisted that particular episode had been put to bed.
"The gaffer got the response he wanted from everybody because he wasn't happy with the way we did things against Tranmere," he explained.
"He was much happier at full time in this game and I think we're all delighted with the goals and the win."
And on a personal level, he admitted he wasn't going to allow the frustrations of two injury plagued pre-season campaigns to dampen his enthusiasm.
"The injury last summer and then again during this pre-season were just set-backs," he said.
"That's two pre-seasons in a row where it's happened to me, but it's all in the past as far as I'm concerned. I'm injury free now and I just want to kick on and do as well for the team as I can.
"You have to take the chances when they come, not just by scoring but by playing well, and that's what I'll be trying to do.
"My sharpness levels are coming and it'll only take a week or so for me to get right back up there. I'll keep myself ready just in case the gaffer needs me and hopefully that was the first of many goals to come this season."
United Player subscribers can see a video interview with Paddy Madden later today. To find out more about United Player, and to subscribe, click HERE.
