25 July 2005
Matthew Fryatt: Interview

Walsall's Matty Fryatt talks to TheFA.com from inside the England base at the European U19 Championship.


England v France
UEFA European U19 Championship, Final
Windsor Park, Belfast
Friday 29 July 2005, 19.00

Fryatt on Merson

England's hat-trick hero Matt Fryatt believes playing at Walsall under the stewardship of former Three Lions star Paul Merson is pushing his career onto new levels.

Fryatt scored all three of England's goals in yesterday's European Championship semi-final victory over Serbia and Montenegro in Northern Ireland.

And he feels that playing alongside one of the greatest forward players of his generation has given him a vital boost.

"For someone like Merson to be behind the front two and feeding the ball is different class," he said. 

"He can already see the picture before anyone else - you can tell he has been at top level, the balls he can play through are just quality.

"Its just there, he knows what he is going to do. We're not always on the same wave length but the ideas he has are just class."

So did the former Arsenal man offer any particular advice ahead of the Championship?

"Not really, he just lets me get on with it and I will obviously deal with my own experiences as he did. He lets me get down to business and develop myself.

"Everyone at Walsall gave me their blessing when I went away with the England squad. They will all be watching and hopefully I can do my best for them."

Merson on Fryatt

Meanwhile Player-Manager of Walsall Paul Merson has piled praise on his young protege ahead of Friday's European Championship Final.

"Matty is a very good prospect," he told the Walsall website. "He’s head and shoulders above a lot of players in the U19 tournament.

"He’s bullying them and roughing them up – he’s definitely out-boxing his weight.

"For the player, the club and the fans it’s great.

"Live on television in an England international and a Walsall player gets a hat-trick - I’m really pleased for the lad."