O’Donnell back where he wants to be

The 21-year-old had a word with Still as he was not happy about playing left back against Biggleswade Town recently.

After the discussion, O’Donnell was restored to the wing for Tuesday night’s 2-0 win at Maidstone United and said: “I want to be playing left midfield or centre midfield where I can affect the game of football.

“I didn’t think I could affect if from left back, so I went and said to him, I didn’t want to be playing left back.

“He’s done his job and put me out on the left wing and I’d like to think I’ve done well.

“It’s hard sometimes as a young lad. You just want to get your head down and play games of football.

“Under Paul Buckle I could knock on his door about anything, football or non football.

“But John Still is the same in a way, he’s very approachable and you can knock on his door if you’re not happy.

“I wasn’t happy playing left back so I went and told him.

“I’m not one who’s going to sit back and play left back and not enjoy it and let it affect my performance.

“I just want to play games of football as I haven’t played as many minutes as I might have liked too this pre-season.”

Restored to his favoured role on the flank against Maidstone, O’Donnell gave the boss a reminder of his qualities, with the standout performance of the evening.

He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed it, I like to take people on and get crosses in and I’d like to think I did that.

“It was a good 90 minutes for me to get.”

Although Still was not in attendance, first team coach Hakan Hayrettin confirmed O’Donnell would be getting a glowing report.

He said: “JJ has great technique, great ability, great setpieces.

“Maidstone United are a very, very good team and it doesn’t matter if he’s playing against Maidstone or the first game of the season, his technique would still be the same.

“Sometimes as a player when you come to places like this, you’ve got to raise your levels based on the expectancy levels of the other team.

“The way he applied himself was spot on, his desire to do the right thing was spot on and he will get a good report from the assistant manager (Terry Harris) and from me.”

Meanwhile. O’Donnell added: “I can only do what I can do. It’s up to the gaffer who he wants in his team and up to Haks and Tel to contribute to what the gaffer’s thinking.

“If I give 110 per cent in games like this, it can only go back and if I was to sort of toss it off, it’s not going to go back well.

“I’ve given 110 per cent and I’d like to think I’ve done my job.”

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