LJC_CCFC
Active Member
[h=1]Adam Barton hopes his rare appearance on Tuesday night proves to be a lifeline for his Coventry City career.
The midfielder, whose deal runs until next summer, has revealed he had the opportunity to sign for another club in the transfer window but decided to stay and tough it out with the Sky Blues for the time being.
And when he was handed a surprise recall to the starting line-up due to John Fleck recovering from a sickness bug, he grabbed his chance with both feet, providing a calming influence in the middle of the park to help beat Bristol City.
“There was a chance to go out permanently in the window but I didn’t think it was right for me and felt I would have learned more staying here,” said the 23-year-old, who has been told by manager Steven Pressley that he won’t stand in his way if he wants to go but, equally, is not forcing him out.
“I’ve had interest but the gaffer has kept his word, which I really appreciate. He’s been really good to me and he knows how frustrated I am; but that’s just football. It’s nothing personal.
“He’s helped me a lot but at the end of the day I need to play football and if I am not playing regularly then I need to go somewhere else. But hopefully I showed the other night that I’m still willing to fight for my place and if he’s willing to give me my chance then I’ll do my best.”
The impressive central partnership of the leggy ball winner with a great engine, Connor Thomas, and the tenacious playmaker Fleck have been preferred to Barton’s more measured approach.
“Connor and Flecky have been outstanding and kept the shirt, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be playing and I totally understand that,” said the former Preston player who, arguably, offers more of a goal threat and went close to scoring at Ashton Gate where a trademark long-range shot was tipped over by the keeper.
“I can’t be going home and losing my head and saying I should be playing because they deserve to be in the team. I have just got to keep my head down and keep working hard. I’ve been doing a lot of extra work because I knew how hard it would be when I did get a game again.”
He added: “The gaffer told me after the game that he was very pleased with my performance against Bristol. I haven’t played for a long time but these are the times when you have to dig deep and keep training hard and doing extra because you never know when you’re going to get thrown in there. So to play the full 90 minutes, I was made up with that.
“I like to think I am getting better at the other side of the game now but there’s still a lot of work to do. The bottom line is you have to take the opportunity when it comes. I haven’t played in a month or so, you have to almost step your game up as high as you can because it’s hard when you’re not playing every week.”
Barton’s exemplary attitude has ensured he’s stayed on the right side of the manager, who doesn’t tolerate disruptive elements in the dressing room, and his patience just might have paid off.
“I’d like to think I’m in with a chance of getting a game again on Saturday but the gaffer makes the decisions and a lot of the time he’s right, so I’ll just have to wait and see. I try to show that I’m ready and available to play every day. I’m not going to drop my head. It’s frustrating at times and you are always going to have days when you are down, but if you think like that then you can’t perform.
“The gaffer understands and even though he has said I can go, he’s given me an opportunity. I was very surprised but hopefully I can play a few more games now.
“At this moment in time I’m still a Coventry City player and will work my hardest for the fans, myself and the team.
“Ideally I’d like to stay. The club’s great and been great to me. I haven’t played much this season but the manager and lads have been great and I’m settled here. I don’t want to go but if I have to, that’s football.
“If the situation stays the same then a loan move might be an option but I’ll wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
[/h]
The midfielder, whose deal runs until next summer, has revealed he had the opportunity to sign for another club in the transfer window but decided to stay and tough it out with the Sky Blues for the time being.
And when he was handed a surprise recall to the starting line-up due to John Fleck recovering from a sickness bug, he grabbed his chance with both feet, providing a calming influence in the middle of the park to help beat Bristol City.
“There was a chance to go out permanently in the window but I didn’t think it was right for me and felt I would have learned more staying here,” said the 23-year-old, who has been told by manager Steven Pressley that he won’t stand in his way if he wants to go but, equally, is not forcing him out.
“I’ve had interest but the gaffer has kept his word, which I really appreciate. He’s been really good to me and he knows how frustrated I am; but that’s just football. It’s nothing personal.
“He’s helped me a lot but at the end of the day I need to play football and if I am not playing regularly then I need to go somewhere else. But hopefully I showed the other night that I’m still willing to fight for my place and if he’s willing to give me my chance then I’ll do my best.”
The impressive central partnership of the leggy ball winner with a great engine, Connor Thomas, and the tenacious playmaker Fleck have been preferred to Barton’s more measured approach.
“Connor and Flecky have been outstanding and kept the shirt, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be playing and I totally understand that,” said the former Preston player who, arguably, offers more of a goal threat and went close to scoring at Ashton Gate where a trademark long-range shot was tipped over by the keeper.
“I can’t be going home and losing my head and saying I should be playing because they deserve to be in the team. I have just got to keep my head down and keep working hard. I’ve been doing a lot of extra work because I knew how hard it would be when I did get a game again.”
He added: “The gaffer told me after the game that he was very pleased with my performance against Bristol. I haven’t played for a long time but these are the times when you have to dig deep and keep training hard and doing extra because you never know when you’re going to get thrown in there. So to play the full 90 minutes, I was made up with that.
“I like to think I am getting better at the other side of the game now but there’s still a lot of work to do. The bottom line is you have to take the opportunity when it comes. I haven’t played in a month or so, you have to almost step your game up as high as you can because it’s hard when you’re not playing every week.”
Barton’s exemplary attitude has ensured he’s stayed on the right side of the manager, who doesn’t tolerate disruptive elements in the dressing room, and his patience just might have paid off.
“I’d like to think I’m in with a chance of getting a game again on Saturday but the gaffer makes the decisions and a lot of the time he’s right, so I’ll just have to wait and see. I try to show that I’m ready and available to play every day. I’m not going to drop my head. It’s frustrating at times and you are always going to have days when you are down, but if you think like that then you can’t perform.
“The gaffer understands and even though he has said I can go, he’s given me an opportunity. I was very surprised but hopefully I can play a few more games now.
“At this moment in time I’m still a Coventry City player and will work my hardest for the fans, myself and the team.
“Ideally I’d like to stay. The club’s great and been great to me. I haven’t played much this season but the manager and lads have been great and I’m settled here. I don’t want to go but if I have to, that’s football.
“If the situation stays the same then a loan move might be an option but I’ll wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
[/h]
