SAM FOCUSED ON BOLTON

SAM FOCUSED ON BOLTON

Defender ready for first league game of 2015…

United defender Sam Byram says the side will be focused on Bolton Wanderers when the squad head to the Macron Stadium this Saturday (3pm).

United currently sit in 20th place in the Championship table and are just one point of the bottom three and the defender says that every game is important.

“We have got the quality in the team to outplay teams like we have all seen,” said Byram.

“It is just a matter of getting the goals and keeping them out of our net. We need to cut out the sloppy goals. There is a fine line between us drawing and winning or losing games.

“Every game is important now. We can’t look to far ahead.

“We have got to focus on Saturday and we have to go into that game with the mindset of picking up as many points as possible. Then we’ll take it game by game.

“Their form has picked up. We know that it will be a tough game like every other in this league. But we’ll go there with a gameplan and put forward our tactics and we’ll see how we go.”

Along with Alex Mowatt and Lewis Cook the Untied defender was rested for the FA Cup trip to Sunderland last weekend, but Sam says it was the right thing to do.

“It was disappointing on a personal note,” said Sam. “It is always nice to play against Premier League sides and especially at a ground I haven’t been to before.

“It was disappointing not to play but it gave the players that haven’t had much game time the chance to get their fitness, get a game and ultimately challenge for places.

“With football you have got to be mentally strong. And both Alex and Lewis have got that.

“But every now and again you need a rest from it all because you can get a lot of pressure put on you, especially with us not having the best run of form.

“So it was probably good to be brought out for a couple of days.”

Sam’s last United outing away to Derby County on December 30 was his 100th appearance for the club and he says time has flown by since he first made his debut in August 2012.

“In terms of football experience I am obviously still young and there is a lot more experienced players around,” added Sam. “But at Leeds there are not many left that are still here from when I first came through.

“So in terms of being around the place I know all the staff but there are other players to learn from, which is good.

“Lewis Cook makes me feel old now with him only being 17-years-old. There are young players coming through and if they ever need any advice I’m here to help them out.

“Time has flown by and it does show just how fast your career can go. It can pass you by so it is important to go into every match and focus on enjoying yourself and play well for the team.”

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