Sheffield United midfielder Sam Wedgbury joined Mansfield Town on loan last month to gain some valuable first team experience. Vital Sheff Utd caught up with the youngster to find out about his time at Mansfield and give you some more details on the youngster.
1. First of all, thank you for taking the time out for this. It’s the first time you’ve been sent out on loan, something that has been used effectively in the past with players like Stephen Quinn & Kyle Naughton, who have both progressed into the first team and been key players this season. What do you hope to learn at Mansfield and have you had any advice from your United team mates?
Well i hope to firstly get some senior games under my belt people think the conference isn’t a good level but i can assure them it is, secondly i hope to get some much needed experience in order to progress in my career, kyle is my flat mate so i talk to him all the time and he gives me pointers on what he did at gretna, i look upto to people like quinny and naughts and think thats where i want to be and yes the likes of gary speed, gary naismith and a few others have encouraged me and said it will be a good experience one that will hopefully help me progress up the ladder in my career.
2. Is it easier with Max Chanot at Mansfield at the same time as you, who is also hoping to progress, and has had his loan spell extended over the last couple of days?
well yes ofcourse it helps when one of your team mates is at the same club as you because we travel in together and i get on well with him he also told me what to expect when i went to mansfield and he told me it is a good club, from my first game i saw the potential the club had when i played the fans are brilliant down there and create good atmospheres in the games which is a realistic enviroment for me to learn in and also the gaffer and the assistant manager at mansfield have been brilliant with me so i really appriciate what they have done for me
3. Unfortunately you were injured during your debut, hopefully it isn’t too serious, how long will you miss out on?
Well i’ll miss a couple of weeks i have been running this week with darius henderson so it will be next week hopefully
4. It seemed last season as though you were close to the first team at Bramall Lane, did Kevin Blackwell keep you informed of exactly how close you were?
yes the gaffer did keep me informed along with sam ellis, they told me that i was close to the bench a few times the sheffield wednesday game being one of them which would have been a dream, but i hopefully one day will get the chance to show what i can do because sheffield united is a top club, but i understand that its not going to be easy with the quality in the squad the gaffer has got the likes of speedo, springy, quinny, monty and now brian howard so they are all infront of me but i will keep working as hard as i can because i am determined to get into the gaffers plans
5. You’re comfortable playing in defence or midfield, and if my mind serves me correct I think you played wide right in a friendly at Stocksbridge in pre season. What do you see as your favourite position?
I love playing central midfield thats where i see myself playing because I like to work hard and get on the ball and pass it, but sometimes aslong as ime on the pitch i dont mind where I play beacause I will always give it 100 per cent
6. What’s it like having experienced pro’s such as Adie Moses, Kevin Horlock & Jason Lee at the club, who have been there and seen it all. Have they given you any advice to help you intergrate into the system/team/dressing room etc..?
They have helped me settle in really well, just told me to relax and just enjoy my football which is what i am doing i am so thankful that i get to train everyday and i dont take that for granted because many people would love to be in my shoes, being at big club like sheffield united and then being loaned out to another quality club with massive potential
7. Being from Oldbury, it’s clear you’re not a local lad as such, but where do your allegiences lie in the football world (without sitting on the fence)
Well all my family are west brom fans, but ive been here that long that the blades are now my club they have treated me so well and i love it here so i will always be a blade
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