Town youngster Tristan Nydam has revealed he is already halfway towards completing his target of first-team appearances this season.
The way Zimbabwe-born midfielder Nydam has caught the eye in the first few weeks of the current campaign means he may have to revise his end-of-season goal before very much longer.
Nydam, who will be 18 next month, said: "My target is to make 10 starts for the first team this season and I’ve made five already. I am actually massively surprised that I have been involved so much. I thought I was going to be involved towards the end of this season but to have been involved as much as I have this early on has been a huge surprise and I think I have taken it in my stride.”
Nydam, capped by England at U18 and U19 levels, made his first senior start at Barnsley in August and thrived on the responsibility given to him by manager Mick McCarthy, who was happy for the inexperienced youngster to take freekicks and corners in the 2-1 win at Oakwell.
He added: "Him putting his trust in me like that, and some of the nice things he has said about me in the press, is a massive boost to my confidence. I’ve just got to keep my head down and carry on improving to impress him and TC [Terry Connor].”
McCarthy further demonstrated his faith in Nydam before the recent home defeat by Bristol City, naming him as a last-minute replacement for fellow midfielder Tom Adeyemi, who picked up a hamstring injury in the warm-up.
Nydam added: "I was surprised when the gaffer chose me but I was grateful as well and I think I took it in my stride. There were no nerves at all really. I just went straight in and got on with it.
"The day before the game we were working on team shape so I had an idea of how we were going to play and what I had to do. The nerves get to me a little bit but I tend to take everything in my stride and keep working at it.
"This is a club that puts their trust in young players, which is a good thing for the academy. It shows the youngsters that they can get somewhere at this club.
"My first-team experience so far has been great and very enjoyable. The rest of the boys have been a great help to me and the other young players like Flynn [Downes] and Andre [Dozzell], as well as Wolfie [Luke Woolfenden] and Pat [Webber], and I think we’ve all done well.
"The senior lads are a great bunch and a great help to us. It also helps that other young players are breaking through here. It gives us all a boost and we push each other on.
"The captain is a good example but so are Skusey and Didzy — all of them, to be fair, are great.
"The biggest difference? It’s got to be the physicality and the tactics for each game. With the U23s and U18s you are playing as a team, trying to play well, but although the results matter it’s at senior level that they are key to keeping everyone happy — the fans, us, everybody.
"The gaffer and the other boys tell me to go out and enjoy myself, which relieves the pressure a little bit. I’ll play wherever the gaffer wants me to play and I’ve been quite pleased with my performances so far. In the long term I see myself playing as a central midfielder.
"As a youngster I started playing on the left of midfield then I went to centre-back, which might come as a surprise to some people considering my height. I played there at U16 level and found it relatively easy to be fair.
"But then I was pushed into the centre of midfield and that’s where I feel most comfortable.”