Connolly Hoping Tough-Tackling Style Impresses Town Boss
Thursday, 14th Sep 2017 16:24

Town fans can look forward in the months ahead to loanee Callum Connolly showing how much he relishes the physical side of the game.

Signed on a season-long loan from Everton, he made his first appearance at QPR last week, and despite the likely return of fit-again skipper Luke Chambers against Bolton at Portman Road on Saturday the youngster is hoping to retain his place and make a home debut against the bottom-of-the-table Trotters.

Connolly grinned as he said: “I like a tackle, it’s a big part of my game and there’s much more to come. I was brought up in the game to be tough-tackling and aggressive in my play. I’m looking to bring that here and be a tough player to play against.”

That will be music to the ears of Town boss Mick McCarthy, an uncompromising central defender in his own playing days, and Connolly added: “I think he likes a tackle too, a 50-50 one maybe even more than a goal and that’s a great plus for me.”

But these days, when referees are quick to brandish a yellow card for challenges that would have probably gone unpunished in McCarthy’s playing career, tackling can be something of an occupational hazard.

Connolly picked up a yellow card in Town’s 2-1 defeat at Loftus Road and his record shows he received one in four games on loan at Barnsley two seasons ago and four in 18 appearances for Wigan last term.

Told there is a picture doing the rounds of him rugby-tackling a QPR player last week, Connolly laughed: “I’ll try not to do that again. Instead of a rugby tackle I’ll try to keep it professional and fair but I see tackling as an important part of the game and it’s a big part of how I play.”

Connolly has arrived at Portman Road with an impressive pedigree, representing England at U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels, although his only senior outing for Everton came from the bench in the 1-1 draw with Southampton in April last year, replacing the injured Seamus Coleman with more than half an hour still left to play.

He was part of the England squad that triumphed in the FIFA U20 World Cup staged in South Korea during the summer, playing in the first two tournament games against Argentina and Guinea and an unused substitute in the final as the team coached by Paul Simpson, an Ipswich trialist back in the 70s, defeated Venezuela 1-0.

He said: “It was a great experience to be involved in something that meant so much. I had a long time away from home — five weeks — in South Korea and it was an amazing achievement for the country. We’ve got a very good squad, both on and off the pitch, and we all connect well.

“We gelled as a team really and we are all looking to progress through the ranks. Over the next few years I want to kick on and continue to improve. My ambition is to go on and play for England at U21 and senior levels.”

Meanwhile, Connolly is trying to brush up on his basic cookery and laundry skills now that he has left home for the first time.

“When she heard I was joining Ipswich my mum said straight away about how far away I was going to be,” he said.

“I’ve been with her since I was born and we’ve never been apart, except for the time I’ve been away on international duty.

“I was able to commute when I went on loan to Barnsley and Wigan but Ipswich is different. I haven’t moved out and it’s as big a shock for my mum as it is for me. I won’t see her every day and she won’t be cooking my dinner or doing my washing. I’m going to have to learn fast.

“Maybe my new team-mates will invite me round for some scran. It’s all come as a bit of a shock so far. I’m not the best of cooks and I’ve been eating out a lot since I got here.

“My mum and dad are my biggest supporters and I have a good fan base back home. Ipswich may be a long way from Merseyside — it took me four and a half hours when I drove down here to sign — but that won’t put them off and I’ll have a few here for the Bolton game on Saturday.”

Photo: TWTD

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