Jon Nolan is eyeing a dream double this weekend — victory for Town over relegation rivals Reading and, 24 hours later, a win for his lifetime favourites Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Despite launching his career with Everton’s academy 20 years ago, the Huyton-born midfielder was a fan of the Anfield club, joining a long list of stars from that part of the world to support one club and then sign for their arch-rivals, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher perhaps the most famous example after switching from being a Blue to a Red and going on to clock up a remarkable 737 appearances.
"Yes, I’m a Red,” laughed Nolan. "And I’m still a Red, especially now that they’re at the top of the Premier League. I’m a glory hunter!
"Was it a difficult decision to join Everton when I was a Liverpool supporter? No, not really, although I can’t really remember as I was only six years old at the time.
"It was just the chance to join an academy and play for them. That was never an opportunity I would have turned down.
"It was something I’d have done no matter who was inviting me to join them. So it’s Liverpool for me, hopefully, on Sunday and I want them to go on and win the Premier League title for the first time.”
But Nolan is more concerned with bringing about the best possible outcome at Portman Road on Saturday, with anything but a win for Town unthinkable as they still attempt to plot a route from the bottom of the Championship to safety.
Nolan now believes he has come to terms with the Championship, having stepped up to this level from Shrewsbury last summer and before that turning out for Stockport County, Lincoln, Wrexham (loan), Grimsby and Chesterfield following his release from Goodison, where he failed to register a first team appearance.
He added: "I feel comfortable at this level but, obviously, it’s tougher. You look at the fixture list and ask yourself where the easy games are going to be.
"The lads you come up against are fitter and faster, but I think I’ve got to the stage where I can hold my own against them.”
If there’s one area of his game where he is desperate to improve it’s his goalscoring, having netted just two for Town after finding the net 10 times on behalf of Shrewsbury last term in 55 appearances, helping them to not only qualify for the League One play-off final at Wembley, which they lost to Rotherham, but also the Checkatrade Trophy final, where they went down 1-0 to Lincoln.
Nolan went on: "In terms of goals, this season has been a bit disappointing on that front, but I’m hoping I can add a few more before the end of the season.
"It’s all about arriving in and around the box and getting my timing right when the ball lands at my feet, rather than just hitting it and hoping for the best.
"I’m trying to get into the box as much as possible because in our present situation we need to win games and that means scoring goals.
"We need help with that all over the pitch, not just the forward players. We need the goals from anywhere really.”
But, like most supporters, Nolan is encouraged by the fact that Town have often controlled games and also dominated possession many times this season. They are currently undefeated in their last three outings, having drawn with Derby, Stoke and Wigan in quick succession to keep alive their hopes of somehow surviving come the end of the season.
He added: "The way the gaffer is asking us to play it’s tough for everyone — press, press, press, win the ball back. But it has worked, even if it’s tough on the legs.
"I haven’t seen the running stats but I’d imagine they would be right up there and on Saturday against Reading we’ll be working our socks off again. Hopefully the result will come and we’ll go on to win several other games.”