Sheyi Ojo keen to make an impression against Poland

Sunday 16 Nov 2014
Ojo is hoping to make an impact against Poland on Monday
Sheyi Ojo is not bothered whether he is scoring the winner or getting the assist – he just wants to leave Poland on Monday with two wins out of two.

The Liverpool attacker is preparing for the second match of a double-header against the Poles in Gdansk this afternoon with his England U18s team-mates.

Poland v England

U18 International
4pm, Monday 17 November
MOSiR Lechia Gdansk Stadium

He appeared as a second-half substitute on Saturday as the Young Lions ran out 3-2 winners over their hosts, but he is hoping to have more of an impact when the two nations meet again.

"It was good for me to come on. I wanted to make an impression on the game," he told TheFA.com.

"When I was watching from the bench, it was obvious we were the better team and I thought we would always win the game.

"It’s obviously up to the manager who comes on, but I was sat there just looking forward and hoping it was me. It was good to get on and represent my country again."

He continued: "Monday will be a more difficult game than Saturday. They’ve already played against us, so they’ll know how we play and how we will set up.

"It’s important for us that we dictate the game and try to be positive – but most of all take our chances.

"We had loads in the previous game but didn’t take them, so in this second game we need to ensure we take them and I’m sure we’ll get the win we want."

Having entered the fray on Saturday, Ojo came close to adding his name to scoresheet late on when he left the crossbar rattling from a free-kick. 

And he says set-pieces are an aspect of his that he has been working on.

"I’ve been working on free-kicks, and it was unfortunate that it didn’t go in," he said. 

"The 'keeper made a great save and tipped it onto the bar. Hopefully if I get picked on Monday, I’ll get another opportunity and I’ll score.”

But whether he nets or not, Ojo and his team-mates have one united goal – victory – and with the attacking threat within the squad, Ojo is confident it’s a target they can achieve.

Sheyi Ojo in action against Holland U18s

Sheyi Ojo in action against Holland U18s

"I like to score goals obviously, but if I’m playing out on the wing or the number ten role, I want to get assists too – it’s one of the things I want to do. Either a goal or assist would do for me," he said.

"You look at Arma [Adam Armstrong], and he’s just a pure goalscorer. Then you have Dom [Solanke], who is similar but in a slightly different way but still gets lots of goals.

"Simsy [Josh Sims] is more of a creator like me, but everyone brings something to the team in their own single way.

"For me, whenever I play, it’s important that I’m offering something to the team whether it’s a goal or assist."

And on the trip as a whole, Ojo added: "It’s been good to be with the squad again. Playing for your country is always a good opportunity, a proud moment, and we all have good banter together.

"We all just know each other really well from playing with and against each other for the last couple of years.

"We are really close and the squad has been pretty much the same throughout the last two seasons."

You can follow all the updates from Poland v England on Monday by following @England on Twitter.

By Gary Stonehouse Staff Writer in Gdansk, Poland