Having extended his loan from Hull City for a second month, Danny Webb is keen to make his stay at the Abbey Stadium into a permanent one.

The 20-year-old centre forward has impressed with his work-rate and physical presence up front, as well as weighing in with an important late equaliser at Lincoln, and he admits he is relishing the chance to play first team football again.

"I'm enjoying it very much. It's all very well being involved at a big club like Hull but the games do make a difference to a player, especially a young player wanting to start making a name for himself," he says. "Thankfully John Taylor has given me that chance at Cambridge.

"The vast majority of the Cambridge team are young and when you look at the hype surrounding Luke Guttridge at the moment I think it shows the club gives players the chance to move on to bigger and better things by playing them, and playing football the right way, and John Taylor encourages that."

In addition to the fact that Cambridge is close to his family base in Essex, Danny has found it easy to settle into a predominantly young squad, as he explains.

"It's very different from Hull. There are over 30 professionals at Hull and here it's a small and mostly young squad, and I think there's a good togetherness because of that. Everyone's pushing in the same direction. It's quite convenient for me because I'm from Essex so it's not too far away and I can see a lot of my old friends as well, but I knew a few of the Cambridge lads anyway so it hasn't been hard to settle."

Asked to describe himself as a player, the former Southend and Brighton forward replies, "As the manager has said, I'm different to someone like Dave Kitson and maybe not such an out-and-out goalscorer at the moment - although obviously being 20 I can work on that - but I think I'm a good target man who leads the line well and can hold the ball up.

"That's what the manager originally got me in to do and I'd like to think I've done a good job for him so far."

A confident and cheerful character, Danny speaks highly of 17-year-old John Turner who has been his strike partner so far.

"He reminds me a lot of myself at 17 and 18 when I was playing at Southend, and he's very keen. Obviously he's got a lot of ability and maybe in two or three years he will be one hell of a player, but at the moment he's like me and we've both got a lot to learn," he adds, before praising the fans at the Abbey for their patience and support of the young team.

"I think the supporters have been good because they appreciate the position the club are in financially and they know the club has to go with the youngsters, and it would be nice to think that me and John could strike up a good partnership.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the supporters here," he continues. "At Hull they're great supporters but - probably because there are so many of them - there's a big expectancy level up there, whereas at Cambridge they're very supportive and they appreciate the position the club's in. That can only help the players."

Looking back on his start in professional football, Danny thanks his father for handing him his chance at Southend when he was only 17.

His father is, of course, David Webb, scorer of the winning goal in the 1970 FA Cup Final replay for Chelsea and winner of the European Cup Winners Cup with Chelsea the following year. As a manager he has been in charge at Torquay, Southend, Chelsea, Bournemouth and Brentford, and he was responsible for signing Danny at Southend.

"I started off as a YT at Southampton and then my Dad took over at Southend," Danny explains. "He gave me the chance to play there and I don't regret it at all because I got a lot of first team experience early on.

"From there, Peter Taylor has been good for me and he took me to Brighton and to Hull. Unfortunately it hasn't quite worked out the way I would have liked at Hull, but thankfully a few clubs have been interested in me. The attraction of coming to Cambridge was playing games and being near to home, so at the moment everything's going well."

Two of Danny's Hull team-mates, Ian Ashbee and Marc Joseph, are former U's players and he added, "They were very pleased for me, that I would be going away and getting games here. They have been two of the strong figures at the club this year, especially Ash (right).

"He's been made captain by the manager this season and the fans love him, and Marc Joseph is starting to establish himself at the back now.

"I think they will be two main players in the promotion push for Hull City."

Danny has always been a forward and he enjoys the coaching he is receiving from John Taylor, who carved a long and successful career as a centre forward.

"I've always played up front, which might be a big of a surprise as my Dad was a bit of a nutcase centre half, but I've always wanted the 'glory' position up front and once you get to a certain age I think you've got to stick with one position to work on. John Taylor has been a big help, especially as he's similar to me in the way that in his day he was a big forward who would hold the ball up, worked hard for the team, put himself about.

"It helps because, with all due respect to Peter Taylor, when you're not in the starting line-up week in, week out, the manager doesn't tend to work with you as much as the players who are ahead of you," he adds. "John Taylor has worked with me and John Turner and it's much appreciated and something I haven't had in a long while."

Asked if he would like to stay at Cambridge United, the 20-year-old answers without hesitation: "Without a doubt. I've spoken to the manager about it on a number of occasions and I've made it clear that I'd like to stay. It's up to the two clubs to negotiate and then to see about my personal negotiations, but I don't see any reason to go back to Hull or to go anywhere else.

"There's great potential here," he stresses. "You've only got to look at someone like Luke who's got rumours about him going to Tottenham or Leeds. It helps to be playing week in, week out, and even in mid-table you've got a chance to show what you can do.

"The manager and the coaching staff have been brilliant by giving all those youngsters a chance, mixed in with a couple of experienced players like Warren and Andy Duncan, and I think it can only make the club stronger."

Closing with his personal hopes for rest of this season, Danny says, "I'd like to make this move permanent and establish myself as a regular in the Cambridge side.

"Obviously you have to perform each week to stay in the side but I like the place, I like the supporters, I like the team, and I'm enjoying my football for the first time in a long while and I think that's the main thing."

"The Quick Fire Round"

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

Martin Brennan, because he's always on the Internet and he's boring!

Favourite holiday destination, and describe why in one word.

Portugal. Relaxing.

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

Probably following in my Dad's footsteps into business.

Who do you go to for financial advice?

My Dad.

What will you be doing in ten years' time?

Hopefully at my peak in the Premier League.

Who is your best mate in the squad?

Probably Luke.

Who has the best dress sense in the squad?

Me!

And who has the worst?

Martin Brennan.

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

Brad Pitt, because he looks like me!

Porsche or Ferrari?

Porsche.

Indian or Chinese?

Indian.

Beer or lager?

Lager.

Boxers or briefs?

Boxers.

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

Oasis, they're legends.

Three words your team-mates might use to describe you?

Flash. Chirpy. Annoying.

*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the match against Rochdale on 24th January, 2004.

You can hear the full interview with Danny on our U's World multimedia website. Click here for details about U's World.

Previous Featured Players this season:
02Feb04: Daniel Chillingworth
19Jan04: Shaun Marshall
04Jan04: Adam Tann
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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