On-loan Coventry City defender Declan Drysdale finds Cambridge United a home from home
On-loan Declan Drysdale has described Cambridge United as having a “home feel about it” that has helped settling in at the Abbey Stadium.
The 21-year-old centre-back joined the U’s until the end of the season on a temporary deal from Coventry City, and has already made three starts.
The transition into the new environment has been aided by the way in which he has settled into the group.
“It couldn’t have been easier, to be honest. It’s a great, great group to come into,” he said.
“I think anyone could come here and settle and would say the same thing.
“It was one of the things that really drew me to come here. One of the first things that Bonz (head coach Mark Bonner) said to me was that I would settle in great.
“It’s been easy and a fantastic transition. The lads here are great, I live with a few of the lads which has made it easier. It’s got that home feel about it, even though I am on loan; it’s been very easy to settle.”
Drysdale instantly picked up on the vibe and feeling within the squad.
“There was a real buzz around the place, but not just that, a real focus and drive,” he said.
“I think I need that to be honest, I want to feel that pressure.
“I want to come into a dressing room where it is competitive every day, and everyone wants the best for each other - that’s the kind of sense I got.
“I was in and around it last year at Coventry, a similar dressing room where everyone was together, and it gets you a long way when everyone is pushing each other. It was good to come into, it really was.”
Drysdale, who spent the first half of the season on loan at League One Gillingham, making 15 appearances, made his U’s debut in the 2-0 win at Barrow.
The defender was thrust into midfield on the morning of the match, after Paul Digby had failed a late fitness test, and it is a position that he has maintained for the last two games.
“I’ve come here to play and when I got the call that I was going to play I was made up, I was buzzing,” he said.
“It was a different role to what I’ve come here to do but I’m happy to do that. It was just good to get started really, and I was happy with the way I started; it went well.
“It was a fantastic away performance. It’s an away performance that you look at now and it was a great performance from everyone.
“As a collective, that’s what we need to get back to as in the last two we’ve been disappointed.
“We can always look at the Barrow game and say it’s the level we can achieve; I think we will get back to that, it’s just you're going to get those little blips at this time of the season. Hopefully we can put that behind us now and kick on.”
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