Huddersfield's Adam Hammill discusses the importance of versatility and proving himself again.
As part of Sky Sports' Sky Bet Championship spotlight, Chris Burton catches up with Huddersfield Town winger Adam Hammill.
The 2013/14 campaign is now well under way, with divisions beginning to take shape.
Here at
Sky Sports we will look to take you to the very heart of the Sky Bet Football League over the coming months, with our Spotlight features intended to give you a greater insight into the clubs and players that keep us on the edge of our seats.
We hope to bring you the views and thoughts of a representative from each of the 72 teams over the course of the season, with those involved asked to give their take on the division they compete in, the club that pays their wages and those we should all be keeping an eye on.
Huddersfield's Adam Hammill is next into the hot-seat, with the Terriers winger taking time out to discuss the importance of versatility and proving himself again with
Chris Burton.
It was a great result at the weekend against Sheffield Wednesday and one that I imagine has helped to lift the whole place?
I think it's fair to say that we had been below-par in the last couple of games, so it was vital that we got back to winning ways. We're coming up to such an important part of the season, there are such a lot of games coming up, so to get a win is brilliant. And that win on Saturday has lifted us towards the right end of the table, towards the top six. Hopefully we can push up the table further, and that's what we should be aiming to do.
It was a good day all round on Saturday wasn't it - three points, first goal for Martin Paterson and Adam Clayton back on the score sheet after both had missed a few games following a training ground 'incident'?
Yeah, that was vital. What happened has been dealt with in-house and they have been given an opportunity because they've both been training well. Credit to Mark Robins, he gives you a fair chance and if you are deserving of a place in the team, then he'll start you. That's important and they have shown to the fans as well that they are committed.
Talking of the fans, they have got a lot of derbies to look forward to this season - as have you as players - that provides an intriguing subplot to the campaign doesn't it?
Exactly, there are a lot of Yorkshire derbies. There will be added spice in those games. The fans really live for the derbies and it's vital that we match their passion and put in the performances that, if we don't win, they can still go away and be proud of us. Saturday, we played well in spells and defended well. It was the perfect away performance, to defend well and to create a few chances and hit them on the break - which we did.
You have done alright in the derbies so far haven't you, Barnsley aside?
I think Barnsley, we were under-par that day. We have had a problem in games sometimes where we give a little bit too much respect and it takes us a half to get going and be confident. We are a very good team and there is a lot of potential in this team. I think we just need to believe a bit more. If you look at our squad now, there is a lot of quality in it and a lot of competition for places. If you look at Saturday's team, Danny Ward and Sean Scannell couldn't get places in the XI.
It's just about finding consistency now isn't it?
I think we have got to be more consistent. Hopefully that will springboard from Saturday. We are confident that we can keep picking up three points. We are confident of playing anyone at home. We just need to believe in ourselves a bit more. We need to see games out a lot more. Another vital thing we need to do is score more goals as a team.
Things could be so much better couldn't they - you look at your results and Birmingham are the only side that have beaten you by more than one goal, so you've been in games?
That's it. Like I said before, sometimes it's taken us a while to get going and we've left it too late. There have been games where we have been in them all the way through and we haven't had a chance to get anything. We have put in some great performances. I think it's something the gaffer will be looking to instil in us, and we have shown that we can adapt to different formations and different systems. On Saturday we reverted back to 3-5-2 and in other games we have played 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2, so it's good that we are versatile.
On a personal level, having seen the club stay up last season, were you always hoping that they would come back in for you?
Yeah, I was. The way the last couple of seasons went, you just have to dust yourself down, dust yourself off and think 'you don't lose your ability, sometimes you lose your confidence'. Playing regularly is vital and I knew this club inside out, I had been here before, and it was the perfect match for me. I knew they would get the best out of me. I've been delighted to be involved regularly this season and I've created a lot of assists, which I've been happy with. But there is a lot more to come from me. I've had two years of not playing consistently, so I'm looking to springboard myself and kick-on again. I'm excited for my future and the future of Huddersfield.
Were you looking for somewhere you could really settle down after a frustrating time at Wolves?
Exactly. I wasn't able to play a big part for them. There were games where I thought I'd done pretty well and then to be dropped for certain games, that was a little bit frustrating. I think this season is all about proving people wrong. It's easy to write players off, but I have got the hunger and I think I have matured. Hopefully I will get to the stage where I am playing good football and can kick on from where I am to the next level and chip in with a few more goals and assists. I think the future is bright for Huddersfield because there is a lot more to come from a lot of players.
As you mentioned, you've adapted to different formations as a team and that has seen you playing as wing-back a lot of the time - is that a role you have enjoyed and one that has come easy to you?
I have really enjoyed it. There is always this myth that because you are an attacking winger that you can't defend. In games, when you're against an attacking team or a big team, you have to drop. Playing at right wing-back, I think it has shocked a few people - even some of my team-mates. I think I have grown into the role. On Saturday, I was better defensively than offensively, so I have grown into that and adapted. I have shown a side to my game that a lot of people didn't know I have. I'm happy that I have been playing in this position and I think it has helped my fitness as I've shown that I can get up and down the pitch. Sometimes as a winger you can be seen as lazy but combining that with full-back, you have to get up and down. It's a tough role, but I'm thriving in it. I'm playing regularly, which is why I came here, I think the fans have taken to me and I've got a lot of respect for them and the football club as a whole because they were one of only a few clubs that were prepared to take a chance on me after what happened in the past. Hopefully the club and myself will benefit and we can all kick on.
What's the target from here, is it get to 50 points as quickly as possible and then see where you are then?
We just have to take it game by game. We just have to set up to get three points and get as many points on the board as possible. You'll see a bit more over Christmas where teams are going to be. You often see teams put a bit of a run together, and we want to be that team and push on towards the top end of the table. We feel we have that in us. There is always a team that comes out of the group - you look at Blackpool and Palace. We think, 'Why can't that be us?'
