John Turner

John Turner had an eventful night at Watford in the Carling Cup first round, making a bright start against the Championship side but hobbling out of the action after just 35 minutes.

It was the 18-year-old's first start of the season and he is frustrated that it ended so prematurely.

"Herve gave me a great chance to go out and show what I can do, and I thought I started well," he recalls. "I was getting past a few defenders and passing the ball around and then unfortunately I got injured in about the 35th minute.

"I was through on goal and maybe I should have shot early but I thought my final touch wasn't good enough and their right back got in front of me. I thought there would be a teammate in a better position to score so I decided to turn back and unfortunately I lost my footing.

"I strained my calf so I had to come off, which was a major blow but I think if I'd have carried on it wouldn't have done the team or me any good."

He watched the rest of the game from the stand and thinks we were unlucky to lose to Andy Ferrell's 83rd minute strike: "I thought we played very well and we didn't look like a third division side at all. Personally I think we were very unlucky not to come away with a win."

John burst onto the scene at the end of the 2002/03 season with his debut goal after coming off the bench against Exeter City, and last season he established himself as a regular in the first team squad. He earned his first professional contract and ended the season by being voted the Internet Young Player of the Season.

John receives the Internet Young Player of the Season award
from website and programme contributor Sean Tyler

"That was fantastic," he admits. "I wasn't expecting it at all but I was very pleased with last season. John Taylor gave me a lot of chances when he was the manager and I got 15/16 starts last season, and I was pleased with how I performed.

"I would have liked to have got on the score sheet a bit more but I made a lot of goals too and I set Kits (Dave Kitson) up for quite a lot. I did get tired towards the end of the season but I'm only young so I've hopefully got a lot of years ahead of me and I can carry on from last season."

Asked to describe himself as a player, John replies, "I like to get the ball into feet and turn and run at people, I think that's my strength in my game. I'm not one to hold the ball up. I like to get at people and bring other people into play, and I'd say I'm just as much of a provider as a goal scorer. I like setting up goals as well as scoring."

The tall young striker also entered the Cambridge United history book by scoring the 2,000th goal of the club's League era with his strike against Cheltenham in March, although he wasn't aware of the goal's significance at the time.

"I found out after the game and I'm obviously honoured to have scored the 2,000th league goal," he says. "I was quite happy with the goal too, it was a decent goal, but afterwards when they told me I was absolutely over the moon."

After that dream debut and being a regular in the first team last year, who does he credit with helping him make the step up from the youth team?

"Last season Dave Kitson helped me a lot and obviously the gaffer John Taylor was a forward and he was a big help. I'm also quite grateful to Daniel Chillingworth. We've always wanted to play up front together, but we haven't had that chance yet apart from the second half against Braintree in pre-season, but we performed quite well in that game so hopefully we can take it on to play in the League together.

"Luke Guttridge is always chatting to me and picking my head up if it goes down, so a lot of the older lads have helped me through."

John Taylor gave the young JT his early chance in the first team, so how has he found life under a new manager?

"It's a lot different, he works us hard, but it's all good for our bodies and it's in the bank for when we go out on the pitch to help us perform how Herve wants us to. Last season we seem to have lost points a few times in the last 15 minutes but, if our fitness is better this year, hopefully we can hold onto a lead and get a few more points on the board."

He reveals that Herve has also spoken to the players individually about their strengths and weaknesses, saying, "He spoke to us all individually near the beginning of the season and he told me I need to be a bit stronger and work on my hold-up play. Obviously I don't know what he said to the other players but it will be good for each player to know what he wants us to work on."

He admits it has been frustrating not to be involved much so far this season but hopes to be involved more regularly when he is fit again.

"I was disappointed not to be on the bench at the Wycombe game but Herve explained why he'd rather go a bit more defensive on the bench for our first away game. But he gave me my chance on Tuesday and hopefully I've impressed enough to be in his plans a bit more when I come back.

"Herve's current formation is 4-1-4-1 and personally I'd rather play two up front - it's hard work being a lone striker - but if that's the way Herve wants to continue to play then we're going to have to adapt to that. As long as I'm playing I'd be happy to play anywhere in his team," he concludes.

Andrea Thrussell

In The Hot Seat

We asked John a selection of general questions from users of the club's message board at www.cambridgeunited.com

If you stay in a hotel before an away game, who do you room with?

Last season we didn't really get to pick who we roomed with when we went away. The coaches usually pick someone around the same age group or who they think we're closest too so I roomed with Dan Gleeson and Jonathan Heathcote a few times.

Who's the best player you've played with, and against?

The best player I've played with would be David Ginola in a training match when I was at Aston Villa. He was absolutely amazing with all his tricks on the ball; he really took the Mickey out of the players he was playing against.

The best one I've played against would be Neil Ruddock. He gave me a dead leg in a reserve game last season, so that's my little claim to fame: Neil Ruddock gave me a dead leg!

Bath or shower?

Bath.

Tea or coffee?

Tea.

Do you love the banter?

I do love the banter. Obviously football can get very serious sometimes but the banter is a good escape from that so you can have a laugh with all the lads.

Do you mind being recognised when you're out and do you mind chatting to the fans?

Not at all. It's quite flattering to be recognised when you're out and if the fans have got a question I'm happy to answer it for them.

What was the last CD you bought?

That would be Donnell Jones album off the Internet. I didn't even know it existed so I just thought I'd buy it in case there were some good songs on it and it's a great album.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever done, and were you arrested for it?

I think when I was four I found my Dad's razor and thought I'd have a shave, and I split all my cheek open. That's probably the most dangerous thing but I've never been arrested!

If you could choose anyone, what player would you like to see us sign this season?

Unrealistically Zinedine Zidane would be my first choice - I think he could win this League on his own. Other than that I don't think we really need to strengthen any particular part of our team, I think we just need to bond together and hopefully perform as well as we can, but if we could get Zidane on the cheap then that would be good.

What are your ambitions after football?

I don't know yet. I'm only young and I don't know what could change in the next 10-15 years, but I'll always be interested in football and sport so maybe I'd go into something like that.

Which player were you most disappointed to see leave the club?

Dave Kitson because I thought we worked well together and he was always helping me through, and probably Jonathan Heathcote because I was really close to him. I came through the youth team with him and he was my roommate at the digs, and I still see him outside football.

Which website do you visit most often?

eBay - I'm always buying stuff off eBay, all sorts of things.

Which TV show do you never miss?

At the moment I can't get enough of the Olympics and I'm watching out for the Great Britain team. Other than that, I'm a big fan of Hollyoaks.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals before matches?

I drink as much water as I can, so I'm always going to the toilet 15 or 20 times before a game! If I stop drinking I seem to start worrying.

What's the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight so far is definitely my debut goal against Exeter two seasons ago.

*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the match against Swansea on 28th August, 2004.

Previous Featured Players:
26Aug04: Luke Guttridge

Last season's Featured Players:
21May04: Your Players of the Year 2003/04
14May04: Ryan Lockett & Stephen Smith
06May04: Matt Robinson
21Apr04: Dan Gleeson
07Apr04: Jermaine Easter
31Mar04: Ashley Nicholls
12Mar04: Alex Revell
04Mar04: David Bridges
20Feb04: Fred Murray
13Feb04: Daniel Webb
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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