A fixture in the back four for most of last season, Warren Goodhind has missed the start of this season following an operation to clean up some torn knee cartilage.

He had keyhole surgery three weeks ago and after starting to run again last week he hopes to return to first team training in the next two weeks.

"It's coming on quite well," he reports. "I've been training flat out with Ant and if this week goes as well as the last three then I hope I'll be involved in some form of squad training the following week."

The versatile defender has high hopes for this season and believes the experience gained last season and the additions to the squad mean that inexperience is no longer a major factor.

"Obviously, although we don't want to talk about it too much and put pressure on ourselves, we're aiming to be well inside the top half. Well inside the top half, if you catch my drift," smiles the 26-year-old.

"We need to keep trying to improve as a team and hopefully we'll start as well as we did last year and finish it off this year."

Although he acknowledges that the squad contains a lot of youngsters, Warren points out that most now have at least one season of first team football under their belts now, so comments about 'inexperience' are far less relevant than they were last year:

"You read stories about other teams with youngsters, and we have a lot of youngsters in this team, but they're all experienced youngsters now so there is no real excuse for lack of experience now.

"I think everyone has to stand up and be counted," he added. "A lot of the lads have played in Division Two even, and although it was in a struggling team towards the back end of that year, we played some good stuff.

"So I'd like to think it will be more gelled together this year and I'm hoping for the players and for the supporters that we will finish the job this time around and not have the bad patch we did last year."

"The Quick Fire Round"

If you were on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and had to phone a friend, which teammate would you choose?

Ummm, I'd have to ask the audience!

Favourite holiday destination, and describe why in one word.

The Bahamas. Tranquil.

If you weren't a footballer, what would your job be now?

I'd like to have done something in films, maybe set design or camera work or something along those lines.

Who do you go to for financial advice?

My Mum and Dad.

What will you be doing in ten years' time?

Hopefully riding the surf somewhere in a very hot country.

Who is your best mate in the squad?

Probably Luke Guttridge. We travel into training together and he's one of the lads I socialise with most. Some people say I'm his minder but I'm not sure about that!

Who has the best dress sense in the squad?

Probably Walks (Justin Walker), but I haven't seen a lot of his gear yet.

And who has the worst?

Dave Kitson!

In a film of your life story who would you want to play you and why?

Jim Carrey, for laughs.

Porsche or Ferrari?

Porsche.

Indian or Chinese?

Indian.

Beer or lager?

Whatever comes!

Boxers or briefs?

Boxers.

If you were given tickets for a gig, who would you want to see and why?

Maybe Guns N' Roses if they got back together. I've got a lot of their live stuff and it's something I listen to before games - I can imagine it would be a completely mad concert.

Three words your teammates might use to describe you?

Probably "bad dress sense", or maybe "bad hair styles"!

This interview originally appeared in the Hull programme on Saturday 25th August.

Previous Featured Players this season:
21Aug03: Dave Kitson
13Aug03: Justin Walker

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