Scunthorpe Utd: Godden aims to prove quality
TEENAGER striker Matt Godden has no ambitions to change his role for Scunthorpe United.
He was used in a central midfield position in the second half of the Iron's 1-0 defeat at Halifax on Saturday.
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POINT TO PROVE: Matt Godden is determined to prove he can be a goalscorer to Iron boss Alan Knill. Picture: David Haber.
And though that's where he first played as a young boy, it's scoring goals that he now sees as his forte.
"The gaffer asked me to play centre mid when we had an XI v XI game in training on Friday," said Godden.
"I enjoyed it and think I did all right, but I didn't know I would be playing there again at Halifax until just before I went on.
"To be honest, if it was a league game and the gaffer asked me to go on as substitute and play in the centre of midfield, I would jump at the chance of getting onto the field.
"I will play anywhere to get a game and will always give 100 per cent to whatever role I am asked to play.
"I started out as a central midfield player – but that was when I was seven or eight years of age.
"I have not played there for a long time.
"The gaffer knows it is not my position – I still see myself as a striker."
Godden, now starting his second season as a full professional, has had only a handful of brief substitute appearances at first team level and has yet to actually start a game.
He has also found himself pushed further down the pecking order this summer by the arrival of players like Jordan Robertson and Andy Barcham.
But on the evidence of the 90 minutes at Halifax on Saturday, Scunthorpe are still in need of a natural scorer.
That is something Godden believes he can be.
"I am not a big target man or anything like that, I am a goalscorer," he said.
"I love to score goals, my confidence is always high and if I get the opportunity to get in a shot, then I will always take it."
But Godden knows he has to work hard to earn his chance in the build-up games that are left before the start of the new season.
"I need to work as hard as I can and get into the gaffer's head for the squad for the opening game at Wycombe," he confessed.
His next opportunity is tomorrow night at Gainsborough Trinity.
"We didn't perform at Halifax, everyone knows that. And we got what we deserved," Godden confessed.
"Hopefully we can put that right at Gainsborough.
"The gaffer wants us to play football – but he also wants us to win as well."
5 Comments
by Izziteck
Tuesday, July 19 2011, 8:00PM
“That's it. Season over before it started. Just because we lost a training game to Halifax. Better close down Glanford Park and build a branch of Lidl. Much more use to the folk of Scunthorpe.”
by PStoff
Tuesday, July 19 2011, 2:55PM
“P.Doff has sadly passed away but I do despair at all this bigging up of failed players just because our chairman has not given our manager any transfer money. we have one sub 100k tribunal looming and are trying our best to sell our remaining saleable asset so we can bring in players.
It is a sorry state of affairs that won't stop whilst the Rupert Murdoch of local football is in place.”
by Oldironfan
Tuesday, July 19 2011, 2:54PM
“The injury situation looks like something you expect to read about when the clocks go back not in pre-season. Obvious depleted in proven quality, the squad needs its players to be fitter and stronger than the average if we are to have a real go in this league. I hope the reported problems are just niggles or are we going to be in 'excuse mode' for the new guys before they kick a ball in anger?”
by EpworthBrewer
Tuesday, July 19 2011, 2:40PM
“It went extra quiet today because no one could log in !
Having said that my interest has dwindled to nothing. Never have I been less disposed to support the club, it is so depressing, even worse than last summer.
Today it was Goddens turn to be 'bigged up' even with the unfortunate use of the word 'forte' in the narrative. Ring any bells ?
Come on PDoff you can log in now.”
by thorpe27
Tuesday, July 19 2011, 2:20PM
“This sight has gone quiet, but understandably so amidst the concerns of many.Struggling against Halifax was poor to be polite. It seems that Mr. Knill had better be quick in justifying his signings and sound bytes as there are a lot of non believers out there at the moment.I would say that this is his biggest managerial test so far and will need to achieve some credibility quickly. Not so much bothered about Gainsborough as that should be a foregone conclusion, but if we struggle against the rest of the pre-season opponenets then i can see early unrest settling. Disturbing.”