Whitehead - I'm Hoping To Break In This Year

Tony Whitehead is hoping to make a “good impression” on Limerick manager Martin Russell ahead of the new season kick-off, where the young defender is targeting a first-team breakthrough.
 

The former Charleville youngster, who turned 19 just before Christmas, made his competitive senior bow towards the end of the 2013 campaign.

The centre-half followed that up with 13 appearances in all competitions last term, eight of those coming in the Premier Division, including two starts against eventual champions Dundalk.

Whitehead felt that he “did okay” in three of his four league starts but he says he is striving to “improve all the time”.

And, having captained the club in their Munster Senior Cup final last May, he is hoping to push on in his senior career, with a clear focus on his aims for the year ahead.

“Just to play as many games as possible,” Whitehead told LimerickFC.ie. “I want to build on last season, make a good impression on the Gaffer over pre-season and hopefully break into the first team properly this year.

“In two or three of the (league starts), I thought I did okay. The home game against Drogheda, I wasn’t happy with myself, but I was only 18 last year.

“I’m looking to improve all the time. The Gaffer is helping me with that and everyone in the club. On the fitness side of it with Derek (McCarthy), he’s improving everyone all the time, so hopefully this year I’ll be more ready and can play more games.

“I had no underage games last year either but at least this year I’ve had a break. I can think about my football. Back in pre-season now, I’m happy with how I’ve done over the few days.

“Obviously, I can still build on it. I’m hoping to break in, because my contract is up in October so I’ll be playing all year for a new contract next season.

“Last year, I came straight in from the Under-19s. Over the winter was my first break in two-and-a-half years so I was happy enough to have it and I’m sure my body was as well.”

Limerick started pre-season on Friday 9 January and on Day Four had a training match, which Whitehead said was a “good run-out”.

“It has not been too bad,” he said, reflecting on training to date. “We’ve kind of eased back into it. I think a few of the boys have been stiff, but the Gaffer is good that way.

“He understands; when people start getting tired, he might give you a break and get ready for the next day, so you’d have high tempo the next day.

“I did a nice bit over the winter. I only took two weeks off. I was in the gym a lot and did a nice bit of running then before we came back. You have to stay in shape – you don’t want to be behind the boys on the first day.

“The first day could have gone better but it wasn’t too bad. It’s something to build on anyway. Thursday was a training game; I played 80 minutes so I might be stiff enough on Friday, but I was happy enough with how it went. It was a good run-out.”

Whitehead has been impressed by Russell since his appointment last July, while the four new signings to join the squad so far this year – Conor O’Donnell, Paul O’Conor, Seán Russell and Dean Clarke – have also caught the eye.

“Martin is unreal,” the young centre-half said. “Training is brilliant. They’re so high intensity; everything is about keeping the ball. He has got us playing brilliant football.

“You saw that from when he came in last year; the results were picking up. Hopefully this year, we can go and build on them.

“The three boys from UCD and Paul O’Conor, first impressions are they’re very good players and I think they’ll definitely add to the squad. We need more numbers; I’m sure a lot of trialists will be in and out in the next few weeks.”