Although his long-term future remains unclear at present, Scott Rendell is currently enjoying a second spell with Cambridge United and again providing precious goals, including a brace two weeks ago in the FA Trophy against today's opponents, Histon.
The hard-working forward joined United on a free transfer in June 2007 following spells with Reading, Aldershot, Forest Green and Crawley, and by mid-February he had hit 22 goals and was the division's second-highest scorer.
Looking back on last season, Scott admits he could hardly have hoped for a better start: "I started the season on the bench so to be on 20-odd goals already by Christmas was fantastic. I felt good in myself, the way we were playing was good, we were going well in the league and we'd had the cup run and the game at Wolves too."
League teams understandably began showing interest in Scott, but when the transfer window slammed shut at the end of January most people thought he would be with us for the rest of last season at least, and indeed the player himself said as much in a post-match TV interview. But things can change quickly in football, and when Peterborough swooped with a six figure bid, a loan deal leading to a permanent transfer was completed within days.
"I was as shocked as anyone when the move came about because the window shuts on January 31st and that's usually it," says the 22-year-old. "I know the club had a bid for me from Rochdale and I spoke to them, but the move didn't suit me at all and I didn't want to leave to go there, so I turned that down and thought that was it. That's why I said I thought I'd be here until the end of the season.
"I didn't think anything could happen after that, but then Jimmy Quinn told me Peterborough were interested and it all happened from there. I'd heard they might be watching me but I didn't think anything could happen until the summer anyway. I was just getting on with my business and continuing what I was doing, so it was a really big shock to be told that they had come in with a bid and they wanted me on loan straightaway.
"I had to give it some thought because I was playing week in, week out at Cambridge and scoring quite a few goals," he adds, "and I knew it would be a challenge to break into their team with the forwards they have there. But if you ask any professional footballer to push on with their career they're going to take it, and it's the same in any job where you get the chance of a promotion."
With Peterborough flying high in League Two and on course for their eventual promotion to League One, and with their generous financial backing from Chairman Darragh MacAnthony, Scott felt they were a club clearly going in the right direction.
If it had been any other club than Peterborough, U's fans would probably have swallowed the disappointment of selling their leading scorer and wished him well. But to lose him to a fierce local rival was a bitter pill to swallow and a minority of fans were extremely vocal in their criticism of their former hero.
"It did surprise me a little bit," Scott admits. "Obviously Cambridge fans are going to be upset with their leading scorer leaving to join their rivals, but the reaction and some of the comments did come as a bit of a surprise.
"I understand no one is going to be happy when they lose their top scorer halfway through the season, and you know you're going to get criticism from someone somewhere along the line, but it was a big relief when I came back last month and got a great reception."
He joined a promotion-winning side at Peterborough and believes their financial backing will ensure their progress continues, but he adds, "Cambridge has done fantastically well.
"They did brilliantly when I was here and I think they've done even better since I've left - making the play-offs, finishing second in the league and getting to Wembley was a fantastic achievement. It was just unfortunate to fall at the final hurdle."
Scott reveals that he was at Wembley to support his former team-mates in the Play-off Final: "Yes, I was there behind the dugout, keeping a low profile," he smiles.
"It was one of those games that could have gone either way and unfortunately it was a bad result, but I'm sure it was a fantastic experience and I know the lads who are still at the club want to get there again, if not get automatic promotion this time."
The chance to be reunited with some of his former team-mates and to play regular first team football again was something that Scott was pleased to accept last month, and he is delighted with the way it has gone so far.
"I had a loan at Yeovil the month before and that went well, although I didn't score, but I was playing well and enjoyed it. Then a couple of days after I got back I was told Cambridge wanted me and I also had an offer to go to Stockport, which would have meant staying in League One, but I'm really glad I chose Cambridge.
"I think I've been playing quite well, I'm scoring a few goals and I feel confident in my ability, and the fans have played a massive part in that too. Ever since I've been back I've got a fantastic reception from all of them and hopefully they'll stick with the team for the rest of the season."
A player who moved in the opposite direction to Scott at the start of this season is fellow striker Danny Crow, and Scott was able to give him some insight into the U's before he joined.
"I trained with him a few times at Peterborough and I think he was just unfortunate that the manager wanted to move him on in the summer. He asked me about Cambridge United and I told him it's a fantastic club with good players and brilliant fans, and it's a good club moving in the right direction.
"Hopefully Crowy can kick on from here and prove to people how good he really is. He hasn't played for a long time and it's going to be hard for him getting back into the swing of things, but Danny is a fantastic footballer and once he starts scoring goals I think he'll go on from there, like any striker."
Having scored four goals in the first six games of his loan spell, including the aforementioned brace against today's visitors in the FA Trophy first round match, Scott admits he is thoroughly enjoying his time here.
"It couldn't have gone any better - in the first game I came on against York at home and I got a fantastic welcome from the fans, which lifted my confidence. I was a little bit wary before that because you never know what reception you're going to get, but that was fantastic. Then I got my first goal against Ebbsfleet and haven't really looked back since, and hopefully that will continue in the games over Christmas.
"We've got three tough games but they're all at home and the boys are full of confidence so we'll go into them knowing we can win them and aiming to pick up three points every time."
Looking back on the FA Trophy tie at Histon, which was played in mud and rain and featured two red cards, two penalties and five goals, including two for Scott, he says, "It was a tough game in those conditions and obviously the pitch didn't help. Histon have a unique way of playing and it's not pretty but it's effective, which shows in their results.
"We went there knowing we had to stick together, fight together and work hard together as a unit for the whole game, and we knew if we could do that we had the bit of extra quality to win the game, which showed when Robbie popped up with the goal in the last minute."
Scott's first goal at Histon came seconds into the second half when he floated a ball from the wide right over Danny Naisbitt to level the score at 1-1, and it has been variously hailed as a brilliant shot or an intended cross. So, Scott, just between you, me, the 6,000-odd people in the ground today, and the thousands more who will read this on the club website, did you mean to shoot from there or was it a cross?
Laughing, he replies, "I'm an honest lad - it was a cross. I just went to put a bit of curl on the ball and it didn't happen, and when I looked up I knew it was in straightaway. The keeper looked like he was struggling and it just went over his head."
Playing Histon again so soon after that tie could add a little extra spice to today's match, but our interviewee was always expecting this to be a tough game: "It always is when we play Histon. You know what you're going to get with them; they're going to battle hard and fight and turn you, and it will be a nasty game like every other time we've played them.
"But we've got to get our heads down and hopefully it will be a better surface and we can play a bit more football. If not, we'll have to go in with the same attitude as we did last time and we should be OK. But it's going to be another very tough game over the Christmas period and hopefully we can get the three points."
With today's game and Sunday's against Stevenage expected to attract bumper crowds to the ground, Scott is looking forward to experiencing another Christmas campaign at the Trade Recruitment Stadium.
"It should be fantastic and as a player these are the games you want to be playing in. The crowd was 7,000 plus last Boxing Day and it was a brilliant atmosphere and a great win for all the players and everyone connected with the club, so we'll be aiming to do that again this year for the fans.
"A few of the faces have changed since I was here last time but the ambitions haven't changed and I think that's showing. We haven't played too well in the last couple of away games but I think we need that one little bit of luck, and maybe the game at Histon was a turning point. If Pottsy hadn't saved that penalty with five minutes to go, that could have turned the game and they would have gone 3-2 up, so maybe that's the little bit of luck we needed to turn our season around and push on from here."
The tall striker credited previous U's boss Jimmy Quinn for helping him to develop as a centre-forward during his time here, but he is also full of praise for the influence of new boss Gary Brabin.
"He's brilliant and I've been very impressed by him from the first time I met him. His training is specific to people and the way we need to play or what we need to work on, and he clearly knows what he's talking about. The boys respect him, as they should, and he's been brilliant with me and I really appreciate it."
The one question that everyone has been asking since Scott returned on loan is 'will he stay?' The situation is developing even as I write, and it is still unclear where Scott will be playing his football later this season.
Apologetically, the player himself says, "At the moment I'm as in the dark as anyone else. Apparently there have been a few bids for me from League clubs but I've heard nothing about that, although I may find out in the next week or so.
"A lot of people have been asking me but I honestly don't know whether I'm going to be here or not. There is a possibility I could stay here on loan for the rest of the season if no acceptable bids come in, but we'll have to wait and see in January.
"I've got three and a half years left on my contract at Peterborough so there's no rush for me to go anywhere or make a rash decision," he warns. "I'm happy to be playing games again and I'm enjoying my football and scoring goals here, and I would only leave Peterborough if it was right.
"To be honest, how many clubs are going to put in a big bid in January for someone? So there are a lot of things to sort out and a lot of talking before anything does happen in January for me."
Turning to Scott's thoughts on United's prospects for the rest of the season, he responds with enthusiasm: "I think Cambridge have a fantastic chance of kicking on and getting back into the play-offs.
"Burton are eleven points clear at the moment and Histon have got games in hand, but our aim has to be the play-offs as the minimum. The squad we've got here is more than capable of that, so now it's up to the boys to make sure that in May we are fighting for that place at Wembley again.
"It's quite close at the top and there are probably a few clubs thinking the same thing - that they can catch Burton or make the play-offs - so it's going to be a tough run-in until the end of the season and I wouldn't be surprised if it went all the way to the end like it did last year. Everyone in the top nine or ten will be thinking they can make the play-offs but I think Cambridge have the quality required to make it."
What's on your Christmas wish-list?
"My perfect day would be a 3-0 win against Histon with me scoring a hat-trick - that would be brilliant for me personally. But if we get nine points over the Christmas period I'd definitely be happy with that and it would set the club up nicely."
Closing with a message for all U's supporters, Scott says, "Thanks very much for the welcome and the way you've been with me since I came back to the club - it's been fantastic. I can't thank you all enough for the reception I've got.
"I'd like to say a bit more about what's going to happen in January and enlighten you a little bit, but at the moment I haven't got a clue myself. But whether I stay or go, I know everyone will do their best and I'm sure you'll be in the play-offs at the end of the season, at the very least."
Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
*An edited version of this interview was published in the programme for the match against Histon on Friday 26th December, 2008.
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