New United defender Nelson eyes up a 'tasty' derby debut
NEWEST recruit Michael Nelson is itching to make what he expects to be a "tasty" Scunthorpe United debut in Saturday's Humber derby.
The former Norwich City defender, who signed a two-and-a-half- year deal at Glanford Park, can't wait to get back out onto the pitch, having had to watch from the stands during the Iron's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough last night.
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Michael Nelson
Nelson wasn't eligible for the Boro match, having joined after the midday deadline on Monday for players wanting to be involved in Tuesday's round of games.
But he is likely to be drafted into the heart of the back four when Hull City travel across the Humber Bridge on Saturday.
The former Canary is likely to be one of several new faces making their home debuts against the Tigers – he was, after all, their ninth signing of the January window.
And he believes fans have plenty of reasons to be upbeat, given the quality of some of the arrivals.
"Obviously I knew where Scunthorpe were in the league when I came up here, but I was not going to let that put me off," said Nelson.
"If you look at the signings that have been made here during the January window it gives you a little bit of encouragement that things can turn around and start moving in the right direction.
"Hopefully, I can bring the positive winning mentality I have had with Norwich over the past 18 months to Scunthorpe.
"And when you see here the likes of Andy Hughes, who has been in a similar position to me at Leeds, hopefully he can do that as well and it can rub off on the rest of the lads here.
"It was frustrating not to be able to play at Middlesbrough last night, but Saturday's derby game at home to Hull is a tasty one to make a debut in."
Nelson has never been one to shirk a challenge, so the 30-year-old insists he was not fazed by signing for a team who are battling to save their Championship status.
He has been brought in to add some steel and experience to an injury-hit defence – more than 18 months after the club first tried to sign him when he joined the Canaries from Hartlepool.
His strength of character was underlined early in his career when he suffered a collapsed lung and several cracked ribs while at Bury and had to have a drain inserted into his chest for several days while he was hospitalised.
It was an injury that threatened to keep him sidelined for three months – instead he was back in training within three weeks.
And having already experienced the bitter taste of relegation, Nelson does not want another one on his CV.
He said: "I know the feeling of being relegated. It happened to me in my first season at Bury and again at Hartlepool.
"It's something I don't want to experience again.
"But I have had more good times than bad in football – and hopefully that will continue.
"I have not come here to sit back and relax. I have come here to try and help the club move forward and move my career forward as well."
Doing that against Hull City would make him an instant crowd favourite.
27 Comments
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by Randall&Hopkirk, sheffield
Thursday, February 03 2011, 5:49PM
“Michael Nelson - the man who casts 2 shadows. What a signing!!”
by john jeffery, Northants
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 8:45PM
“Dave in Hull - the council in Hull did not have to dig deep to finance the new stadium. They had a windfall from the sale of shares. The name of whch is reflected in the name of the stadium. You must know why it is called the KC Stadium. Remember it was not built purely for Hull City - you share it with a Rugby Club and pay the council a rent.
The council did help you out by allowing you to play at the KC after you were locked out of Boothferry Park - didnt pay the rent as I recall. You were very lucky that the council took you on as tenants with a record like that! Dont fail to pay the rent again or you will have to take your begging bowl round to Hull KR!!!”
by Mark, Bev
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 8:04PM
“Just because dave is a fool doesnt mean we should discredit what he says. We was once bigger than hull but no investment came our way and look at us, were feeding off the scraps of other clubs. The reason were in a mess is our chairman has no clue what to do with the club and our manager has no idea about how to set up a winning team. p.s both scunthorpe and hull are even in humber derbys won (13 each)”
by Dave, Paris
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 7:54PM
“I think as fans we need to come to terms with the fact this season has not been the dream season we thought it would be. C'mon 9 goals at home. I think we should follow the team as we drop to league 1 and do it by getting behind Scunthorpe United, our team. We need to become a team with fans who can celerbrate even through the bad times. And c'mon as long as we don't go bk to league 2 we are still doing excellent.”
by Eddie Murphy, Beverley Hills
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 7:34PM
“Ha ha - you get taken to the cleaners on every single story you post on Daaaaave, yet you still keep coming back for more. Priceless!”
by Benajmin Dover, 1500club, Liqour in the front, poker in the back
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 6:21PM
“He'll be wearing distressed denim and a pair of laceless boots (tucked in), I'd wager!
Up the Iron!”
by nelson tasty, water
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 6:12PM
“is he wearing any shorts in that shower scene photo? why is he "itching"? what "tasty" thing is he "eyeing up"? is this to appeal to those who don't understand the offside law?”
by 1500club, Lincs
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 5:52PM
“'How many years and how many defeats'? You tell us Dave, cos I dont recall too many defeats against Hull City in the last 20 years (or prior to that)....
Lets hear it?
I LOVED it when O'Connor smashed that winner in November but I dunno if it caps the Baker/Clarkson/FISH OUT double, or the three goal half time lead at Bothferry park the following year - I've never witnessed a more one side game than the 2-0 win when Tim Clarke was injured...who can forget Jacko scoring with that late, late free kick? TOTAL DOMINATION OVER PERIOD OF DECADES - my personal favorite was the 3-1 win at the KC in the LDV when we brought 2,000 for a mid week 4th round tie....tell me Dave - we you one of the 800 true City fans who came to GP in 1997 (Forrester 2)...or one of the 3,000 Tigers in the earlier game that same year (FISH OUT) at BP?
The best bit is - Hull is no derby for the Iron, that would Grimsby...Hull seem to flit between us, Leeds,Sheff Weds/United, Scarbough and York and none recognise Hull as anything other than a rugy city.
So come on 'Dave' - lets hear your memories of smashing SUFC because I've got 30 seconds to spare.
Up the Iron!”
by Tom, Scunny
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 5:48PM
“No answer. I thought not. What was it Peter Kay called Liam Gallagher at the Brits last year? Oh yeah, that's it......NOBHEAD!”
by Tom, Scunny
Wednesday, February 02 2011, 5:32PM
“Would you mind telling me Dave.....exactly how old are you? Be honest!”