Paul Digby has offered an unsurprisingly no-nonsense insight into his mindset during the heat of battle whilst in action in black and amber for the U’s.
The man who has quickly become known as “the Digger” by many United supporters, owing to his combative and commanding playing style, says it quite simply all comes down to a will to win
“In the moment you’re not really thinking about anything else, other than wanting to win the game.
“All games are feisty! And maybe from the sidelines (without fans) you can hear and see that a lot more now. That’s just the competitive nature of it and that’s just how it is. For me anyway.
“The first marker on how to judge your own performance, is whether you have won the game. It’s all about winning, and I’d do anything to win really.”
Having signed on permanent terms in the summer, Digby is delighted to have hit the ground running at the Abbey having featured in every single minute of every match in all competitions thus far for Mark Bonner.
He said: “I’ve played every minute which has been good, and just feeling fit, feeling fresh and being able to play all of those minutes I’m really happy.
“I’m pleased with my body that it’s been able to handle that, especially coming off the back of such a long time out. I think every player would have had questions like ‘have you kept yourself fit enough’ or ‘are you really ready to go?’ So I feel vindicated for working as hard as I did in the time we had off, and it’s paying off now that I’ve been able to put in those minutes. It’s been a good start.
The former Forest Green and Stevenage central midfield is embracing the challenge laid out by Bonner to the first team squad to adapt to everything thrown at the U’s this season. And Digby feels comfortable and confident with the role he’s been given, as well as those that he has to work with around him.
“I have really enjoyed my role in the side, and we’ve clicked together well so far. Long may that continue. I like to tell the attacking players on the pitch to do just that, attack. We want them helping us going forward, so if I have to do the more defensive side of things, then that’s my part in the team. That’s precisely my role.
“As a player you have to be able to adapt so quickly to anything as well, and you learn that with experience. That can be another player coming into the team, a change in shape, if you have to adapt your role or position in the team slightly. I’ll go into games different mentally if I’m going into a game with two in there (central midfield) or three in there, because I know my role is going to be different.
“I’ve tried to do that with the different partners I’ve had alongside in the middle of the park. They are all good players though, so that makes it far easier.”