Although he broke into the first team and established himself as an accomplished defender at both right back and centre-half, Adam Tann has recently moved forward into midfield and the 21-year-old is relishing the challenge of his new role.
"It's been brilliant to get back in the first team again," says one of the U's many youth team graduates.
"Obviously the last couple of results haven't gone our way and they've been a bit disappointing," he admits, "but Saturday went pretty well and we should have come away with a victory, and I really enjoyed it in midfield."
However a midfield role is not completely new to him, as he confirms. "When I was 14/15 and just starting out at Cambridge I did start out as a midfielder. I soon got converted to a defender but I'm starting to get used to it again, I think."
Adam's partner in the centre of midfield is fellow youth team graduate Luke Guttridge and he agreed that the pair seem to complement each other well:
"The manager has told me to go in there and do a job, and I'm defensive-minded anyway so I'm just sitting there and picking the pieces up and making some tackles, and then letting Luke push on a little bit and create a few things for the strikers. So I think we do complement each other and I hope it will work well in the future."
Asked for the differences between playing in the defence and in a more advanced role, 'Tanny' replies, "You get more involved in midfield and you see more of the ball, and you definitely have to think a lot quicker. I'm just slotting in there and hopefully getting used to it, and we'll see what happens."
With four well-taken goals last season - including one of the best headed goals ever seen at the Abbey against York in September - the Fakenham-born youngster picked up the unexpected tag of "goal king" when he notched a headed brace in the FA Cup second round tie against Northampton a year ago.
He showed he has not lost the knack with another in pre-season against Colchester at the Abbey, and he hopes to add a few more goals to his tally this season.
"Being in midfield I should probably get a little bit more forward, although not as much as Luke, but hopefully if I carry on it that role I might be able to pop up with a few headers," he adds.
This season, it was difficult for Adam to be on the sidelines for most of September, October and November, especially after establishing himself as a first team regular during the last two seasons and beginning this season in the side, as he explains.
"It's been an up-and-down season so far for me personally. I started in the team as a right back and played five or six games, then I probably did lose a little bit of form and the manager decided to leave me out, so I had to deal with that - and it happens to everyone in their careers - then I've been in for a game and out for a few more, so it's been hard being out of the side and not involved," he admits.
"But I've had to deal with it, and now I've hopefully taken my chance and I can produce a few more good performances.
"I suppose I might get that tag of a 'utility player' if I carry on like this, but as long as I'm in the side I really don't mind where I'm playing!" he adds with a grin.
Adam hopes that the tide is turning for the team and after an inconsistent start the results could pick up as we approach the busy Christmas period of the season.
"As a team collectively we haven't performed as well as we could do, especially at home," he comments. "We owe the fans at home a good performance and some good results, so that's been a bit disappointing, but overall it's been OK.
"There's a lot to improve on. A few things haven't gone our way but that's no excuse and we have to get on with it, and hopefully we can improve and give some performances back to the fans."
With the squad affected by injuries and suspensions, the personable Tann looks ahead to the games over the Christmas period - away to Northampton, Lincoln, and Hull or Swansea, plus the Boxing Day game at home to Southend, and admits, "It's going to be tough.
"Obviously the Christmas period is the busiest time for us and we have a few injuries, but hopefully a few of them are coming back. The likes of Dave Kitson and Mark Venus are on the mend, but we still have a very small squad and a lot of young players involved, but if we work as a team then hopefully we can get through it."
Adam's hopes for the rest of the season, both for himself and the team, are straightforward:
"Personally I'd like to stay in the side. I'm not sure in what position, but I'd just like to stay in the side and hopefully perform to the best of my ability.
"For the team, it would be nice to pick up a few points at home with a few good performances to give the fans something to cheer about, and then hopefully get up that league and into the next round of the FA Cup."
And so say all of us!
"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?
Warren Goodhind, because I think he's pretty clever and I know he's doing some qualifications out of football hours.
Favourite holiday destination, and describe why in one word.
America. Amazing.
If you weren't a footballer, what would your job be now?
I'd be involved in sports in some way, like a P.E. teacher or instructor of some sort.
Who do you go to for financial advice?
My parents.
What will you be doing in ten years' time?
If not still playing, I'd either be involved in football in some way or running my own business - maybe a restaurant or a publican.
Who is your best mate in the squad?
I'll have to say a few here or I might get in trouble! There's a group of us that have grown up together, so there's Franco, Aggy (Revell), Bridgo and Chilli.
Who has the best dress sense in the squad?
Andy Duncan has got some smart gear.
And who has the worst?
Luke's a bit of a rascal!
In a film of your life story who would you want to play you and why?
Jim Carrey - I know a few people have said him, but he's got a mad side to him and a serious side too.
Porsche or Ferrari?
Porsche.
Indian or Chinese?
Chinese.
Beer or lager?
Lager.
Boxers or briefs?
Boxers.
If you were given tickets for a gig, who would you want to see and why?
There are so many, but I'll say Coldplay because both their albums are fantastic.
Three words your team-mates might use to describe you?
General nice guy!
*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the match against Darlington on 13th December, 2003.
You can hear the full interview with Adam on our U's World multimedia website. Click here for details about U's World.
Previous Featured Players this season:
29Dec03: Gareth Williams
23Dec03: Franco Nacca
18Dec03: Shane Tudor
11Dec03: Andy Duncan
04Dec03: Stevland Angus
28Nov03: John Turner
21Nov03: Luke Guttridge
29Oct03: Stuart Bimson
21Sep03: Warren Goodhind
21Aug03: Dave Kitson
13Aug03: Justin Walker
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