Ben picked up the award for the Club’s most promising player at last week’s OSC awards night, and he’s told MCFC.co.uk that he thought any one of several team mates could have got the nod.
“It’s been a good year for me and I’m pleased to win the award,” Ben declares. “There were a couple of players that were worthy of it as well, David Ball scored 30 goals this season and could have been a contender so I’m very happy.”
With Richard Dunne and Joe Hart picking up the other awards last week, central defender Ben is pleased that the Club’s backline are getting some overdue recognition.
“The boys at the back always work hard, and those two have played really well this season. Strikers tend to get all the credit for scoring goals but it’s nice to be recognised for doing our jobs as well.”
But at times Ben showed that there’s more to his game than just defending, his header in the Youth Cup final second leg setting City on their way to a memorable win, and he’s keen on more of the same next term.
“Obviously defending is my main priority, but I love getting forward at free kicks and corners and trying to score. I managed to get a few this year and I want to do the same again next season, but I don’t have a celebration worked out as yet! I just tend to put my hand in the air and run off at the moment.”
And as for next season, Ben is hoping that his move from the Academy to the senior training set-up at Carrington will take his career even further in the right direction.
Ben adds: “I’ve been told I am going over to Carrington next season, so I really hope to push on now and get some more experience playing at reserve team level. A few of the other youth team lads should be doing the same, and I’m looking forward to the next stage. I’m on standby for the visit to Thailand as well, so the season’s not quite over yet for me.”
