Wickham: "I just want to play"
By Jamie Bradbury
Saturday, 26 March, 2011
Connor Wickham has his sights on a second Euro winners' medal.
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Connor Wickham told TheFA.com that he “just wants to keep playing football” and has set his sights firmly on a place in the England Under-21s squad for this summer's UEFA European Championship in Denmark.
The strapping Ipswich Town forward made his second appearance for Stuart Pearce’s side as a substitute in Thursday night’s 4-0 win in Viborg. Now, as the team prepares for their second game in a week, against Iceland at Preston North End on Monday evening (click here for ticket details), he’s determined to show the coach he’s worth a place at the Finals.
“I just want to play football at the highest level,” he said when he spoke exclusively with FATV (click to watch the interview). “I’m with England now, so I just want to show the gaffer what I’m capable of and be in the mindset for the summer and for future England games.
“To come away with England and to be selected as one of the best is brilliant. Training’s been good this week but I’ve just got to carry on working hard for Monday’s game and who knows what will happen.“
He continued: “This season I think I’ve got the football I wanted to play and that I’ve needed to play and it’s given me a confidence boost. Any football is going to help any footballer. I just want to keep playing when I can, no matter what level it’s at.”
Wickham, who turns 18 on Thursday, is already a European Champion. He and fellow Under-21 player Josh McEachran, from Chelsea, lifted the U17s title in Liechtenstein last May. He even scored the winner against Spain in the Final.
But not content with just one winners’ medal, he hopes he can be part of a victorious England squad at Euro 2011 in June.
“It would be another summer tournament, and I want to win another tournament. It’ll be different, but if we play to the potential that is in our team we are capable of beating anyone on our day.
“All the boys have taken me as part of the team and have treated me no differently to anyone else. They are a great bunch of lads and I’d be happy to spend the summer with them.”
Wickham added: “Even just to be selected would be brilliant but to win it would be better. I don’t see why we can’t go on and really push this summer to win the tournament.”
Tickets for the game at Deepdale are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children.
To buy visit the ticket office at Deepdale, call 0844 856 1966 or online at www.mypne.com .
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