On-loan midfielder Kundai Benyu hopes his spell with Vanarama National League Aldershot Town will help him to get back into Mick McCarthy’s first-team plans at Town.
Benyu, who is 19 on Monday, has joined the Shots on a month’s youth loan and looks set to make his debut in tomorrow’s FA Trophy tie at East Thurrock.
The Camden-born youngster, who has been on the Town first-team bench on four occasions without making a senior appearance, says he spoke to former Blue James Alabi and current defender Adam Webster, who had a spell on loan with Aldershot in 2013/14, before making the move.
Outlining what Shots fans can expect from him, Benyu told Get Hampshire: "Without blowing my own trumpet I’d like to compare myself to [Manchester] United’s Ander Herrera, my short passing and driving at the defence are probably my strongest attributes.
"Aldershot is a perfect fit, but the gaffer wants me to do the other side of the game too and in this league it’s vital.
"I had a friend who played for Chester, James Alabi, and he’s only told me good things and that the league is better than people think - teams do try and play football.
"[I heard about] the deal about a couple of days before, I needed to get some first-team football and it wasn’t going to happen straight away in the first team, so Aldershot was recommended as a good club to play.
"I spoke to Adam Webster who told me good things about the club and gaffer [Gary Waddock]. He said that the gaffer here was really good and that he would look after me and the lads were a good bunch.
"I want to play as many games as possible and get a good experience of men’s football, I want to help the side get three points every week, too."
He added: "It will help me get into Ipswich’s plans again and get first-team football at Portman Road.
"I was injured for four or five months [last season] and that made me stop/start for while so I’m looking forward kick-start again and get back into Mick McCarthy’s plans.
"Ipswich will be sending people to watch the games I’m involved in and a couple of the coaches have called me already so we’ll be keeping in contact like that."