Darryl Knights arrived at the Abbey on loan last month and has made a great impression in his five games so far, setting up a number of goals and scoring twice in the 5-1 FA Cup replay win here against Stafford.
His initial one month loan expires after today's game and Darryl would like to stay, and indeed it was verbally agreed between the clubs that he would be able to stay for another month, but injuries at his club Yeovil mean that he may be recalled after today's game.
"I've spoken to Russell Slade there and I'd like to stay on because I'm enjoying it here and it's nice to be closer to home, but we'll have to see how it goes," says the 19-year-old.
Born and bred in Ipswich, Darryl joined the Ipswich Town youth academy at the age of nine and made his one senior appearance at the age of just 16, as a substitute in a Championship game at Sunderland's Stadium of Light in November 2004.
He was also part of Ipswich's FA Youth Cup winning side in 2005 and signed his first professional contract that summer at the age of 17.
"It was a two-legged final, one at Southampton and one at Portman Road, and in the home game we had a crowd of 16,500 and it was on TV as well so that was a great experience," he recalls.
Darryl has also represented England at Under-16, 17 and 18 levels and was on standby last season, and represented his country in the U17 European Championship Qualifier in the summer of 2005.
A skillful and versatile player, he played up front or wide right for Ipswich's youth team and reserves, but first team opportunities were hard to come by last season and in March this year he joined Yeovil on loan.
His five sub appearances included Yeovil's League One play-off final defeat to Blackpool at the new Wembley, and when he was offered the chance to make the move permanent this summer he jumped at the opportunity for first team football.
"I'd got to know all the boys there last season and they're a good bunch of lads, and they did really well last season and wanted to build on that, and I wasn't getting a look in at Ipswich so it seemed like the right thing to move there."
Unfortunately injury has restricted Darryl to three sub appearances so far this season so he has enjoyed the chance to play regularly and the players here soon helped him to settle in.
"I knew Danny Potter because he's an Ipswich lad and I knew of Reedy because he used to be at Yeovil. I didn't really know anyone else but it's a good set of lads here and a good variety of age groups and they've made me welcome.
"The whole team is together and there's not really any groups. The young ones don't split up from the older ones, and everyone's together.
"There's a good team spirit and the manager and the assistant, Alan, have got such a good bond with the players, and all around the club there's a great spirit."
Darryl has enjoyed the first team football but was particularly relieved to score his first goals in the FA Cup replay: "I'd hit the post just before and I was thinking it's going to be one of those nights, so I was really glad to score my first first-team goal and break that duck, and hopefully I can get some more."
Darryl's pace and movement has been difficult for defences to cope with, but he adds, "I don't find there's much difference between the games I've played in League One and this level."
There was an interesting comparison last weekend when he saw his Yeovil team-mates humbled in the FA Cup at Torquay United, where United recorded a marvellous 2-1 win the week before to knock the Gulls off the top of the Blue Square Premier.
"It was a great result for us; we needed that and it's given us a bit of a boost, and I think we've got a very good chance of getting promoted and maybe having a good little cup run too," he says.
"I've really enjoyed my time here and I'd like to stay, but obviously I'm contracted at Yeovil so we'll have to see what happens. My contract runs out at the end of the season too."
Darryl's loan has also allowed him to be at home in difficult circumstances. His younger brother Kyle was seriously injured in August when his moped was struck by a car and the 16-year-old has remained in hospital in a coma since then. Darryl was granted compassionate leave by Yeovil to be with his family at the time, and his loan here has obviously meant he can visit more easily and spend more time with Kyle and his family.
"The driver was in court this week so it's been a more stressful time for the family, but he's been in a coma for about two and a half months and I've been travelling back from Yeovil on every day off. It takes about four and a half hours and it's caught up with me, so as soon as the gaffer heard about the move he pulled me in and said it would be a good move so I could be close to my family and I agreed with him.
"Me and my brother have always been really close so it was a shock. You don't really expect things like that to happen to someone so close to you and when it happens it's like a massive shock, so this has been much better for me from a personal point of view as well as the football side of things."
We also asked Darryl some questions from supporters on the club message board at cambridgeunited.com, starting with one from Alix Lamont who asks: "Who do you think the best player is here?"
Darryl: "That's hard to say. Rob Wolleaston has impressed me a lot but there are a number of players who have done really well since I've been here. Michael Morrison and Brights and 'Rhino' (Mark Peters) have all been solid at the back, but all through the team people have done well. Shaney has come into goal for Pottsy and done really well, Pottsy's done well, so it's hard to say."
Matt Ramsay asks: "Having been on the books at Ipswich Town and Yeovil Town, have you set a target of how high you feel you can reach in professional football?"
Darryl: "Everyone would love to play in the Premiership for one of the big teams, but realistically I'd like to play in the Championship again. That's my aim, and if I go higher then that's great."
Matt Bell asks: "Do you enjoy playing in the hole or would you prefer to be back up top?"
Darryl: "I don't really mind where I play to be honest, as long as I'm playing and on the pitch."
Matt also asks: "Have you got a nickname and a picture above your peg in the dressing room yet?"
Darryl: "Not yet, everyone just calls me 'Knightsy', and I haven't got a picture up in the dressing room yet."
Daniel Lowe asks: "How does it compare playing in a League team's reserves to playing first team at BSP level?"
Darryl: "Oh there's a big difference. Sometimes the reserve games are hardly worth playing in, whereas it's much more competitive here. Like I said before, I don't really see a difference in the games I've played here and when I've come off the bench for Yeovil."
Daniel also asks: "Do you think you are getting a football education from the likes of Leo?"
Darryl: "It's always good to play with good, experienced players like Leo because they know the game and they've been around the game so they can help you out."
Chris Vessey asks: "If you could take one person to live with on a desert island, who would it be and why?"
Darryl: "I used to love Jessica Alba but I'm a massive fan of Alicia Keys after seeing her new video so maybe her."
Chris: "Spice Girls or Girls Aloud?"
Darryl: "Girls Aloud"
Chris: "Pie and Peas or Pasta and Pesto?"
Darryl: "Pie and peas"
Tim Smith asks: "Would you consider a permanent move to Cambridge if we are promoted?"
Darryl: "Yes definitely, especially if Yeovil wasn't offering me a new contract because I've enjoyed every moment here."
Tim also asks: "How would you rate the team spirit here compared to your other clubs?"
Darryl: "I think Yeovil's team spirit last season was the reason why they got so high up because they had a brilliant team spirit, as has Cambridge this year. I think team spirit has a lot to do with how a team does on the pitch and Cambridge's is really high."
Tim's final question: "Whose harder, Leo or Danny Brown, or another?"
Darryl: (laughs) "I don't know, but that would be a good fight!"
Chris Priday asks: "Did you give your Yeovil team-mates any tips ahead of their F.A. Cup clash with Torquay, having beaten them on their patch with the U's just last weekend?"
Darryl: "I spoke to some of them but I didn't really say anything about the game. To be fair, I was disappointed with how Yeovil played because Torquay spanked them. I was kind of rooting for Torquay because I didn't want the Yeovil lads to have the bragging rights over me!"
Adam Taylor from Baldock asks: "Who is your footballing idol?"
Darryl: "Eric Cantona, because of the way he used to play. He was a great player and I was a Man Utd fan when I was younger, but obviously I followed Ipswich too and I also liked Colchester and used to go and watch them with my Dad."
Adam also asks: "What area of your game has improved since joining Cambridge?"
Darryl: "I've definitely got a bit more confidence in myself. When I was at Yeovil my confidence was low, playing in the reserves and everything, but this has definitely done my confidence the world of good and that's a key point of any footballer."
Adam also asks: "What is the current training regime like compared to your previous clubs?"
Darryl: "The training we do is very similar, although we went to the Army camp in my first week here and that was good for the team bonding and fitness, and it was good to get to know the players."
Adam's final question: "Have any of the players got any celebration routines?"
Darryl: "I don't think there's a specific one that people work on, it's just whatever comes. I was hoping I could score on Saturday because I was just going to run over to Al - he's been really good."
Tom Bowran asks: "In training, who would win aerial challenges in the battle of the big men, you or Courtney?"
Darryl: (laughs) "Probably Courtney because he's got more experience than me."
Tom also asks: "Who's the fastest player in the squad?"
Darryl: "Probably Courtney again, or the lad from the youth team, Robbie Willmott, he's really quick."
Fred Clamp asks: "Why the blinding yellow boots?"
Darryl: "I just like them, to be honest. I've always had bright boots ever since I was young."
Tim Smith asks: "Would you be prepared to play for a team where the line up is decided by the fans? (ala Ebbsfleet/myfootballclub)"
Darryl: "I don't know much about that, to be honest. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing for the team to be picked by the fans because it would put more pressure on you and you'd have to perform, but I don't really know much about it."
Finally Leanne asks: "Your personal circumstances have brought you to Cambridge, how is your brother doing? Has being here helped with being able to visit him and are you getting plenty of support from your team-mates here?"
Darryl: "It definitely helps being here because I've been with him all the time; I go and sit with him every day after training and apparently when he was doing physio yesterday he tried to say 'Darryl' so that's good. I've been talking to him and boring him by talking about the games and reading bits to him out of the papers, and everyone has been really supportive."
Whether or not Darryl is allowed by Yeovil to extend his loan after today's game, he has made a real impact in his five games so far and I am sure everyone reading this will send their very best wishes to his brother Kyle and the whole family.
Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
*An edited version of this interview was published in the programme for the match against Northwich Victoria on Saturday 17th November, 2007
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