Michael Newberry programme article
Posted : 28th October 2023
‘Look at Linfield’ this week catches up with defender Michael Newberry, who was elated to have played his part in last week’s battling 1-0 win against Cliftonville at Solitude, as he stepped in at right back in place of the suspended Daniel Finlayson and the injured Jack Scott.
“It meant a lot to me and I think it meant a lot to all the players. We put a real shift in and although the game didn’t quite go to plan, we got there in the end for a good win. We’ve won all seven matches since we lost at Larne and we have kept four clean sheets on that run, so I think we have been defensively strong. The back four all know their roles and I think that’s partly why we are doing well.”
The 25-year-old from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, has had to be patient at times this season, as he’s had spells in and out of the side, but having been at the Club for nearly two years now, he knows what’s required when he is trying to break back into the starting eleven.
“It definitely is difficult when you’re not in the team, but the team had won every game since I last played, so I couldn’t complain about that, because it’s ultimately about the team winning and being successful. The lads have been doing really well and I have just had to be patient, making sure that I was ready for the gaffer when he needed me and I think I managed to step up when called upon against Cliftonville. Considering I played at right back – a position which I hadn’t played for quite some time – I thought I did alright within myself.
“Playing right back is physically tough and, particularly at Solitude, you get the ball in tight areas and have to be confident in possession. You have to adapt as it’s different to playing centre half, but that’s football – you do what you can, to help your team. As a player, I was brought up to want to play out from the back and to be brave on the ball and I think that’s why I feel playing at right back can suit me, as well as playing as centre back where I have played most of my games.”
“People don’t see how hard you work off the pitch, what you’re eating, how you train when you’re away from the training ground, how you look after yourself at home – that’s a big aspect of being a Linfield player. You have to really commit to giving it everything and that’s why playing and winning against Cliftonville meant so much to me.”
Last week’s 1-0 win at Solitude, courtesy of Chris McKee’s late goal has the Blues seven points clear at the top of the Sports Direct Premiership table and David Healy’s men are nine points better off than they were at this stage of last season. Few were predicting this scenario just a few months ago, but Newberry believes there is a steely determination about this Linfield team and they are hurting from last season which is fuelling their fire.
“The stats don’t lie, we are a good team. We’ve only lost one game this season – away to Larne, who pressed us really well and deserved to win on the night. Sometimes when that happens, you have to hold your hands up and then look to respond, which we have done very well. Last week proved we are a good team and that we can play any kind of football – we can win scrappy matches 1-0, or we can beat teams 6-0.
“The intensity of training, the level of training – it’s higher this season. We’ve brought new players in, who have strengthened the squad and we have a different mindset this season because we feel we missed out on the title by quite a bit in the end, even though we were runners-up. Hard times make tough people, and I think that’s the case for us as a squad, because we suffered some really hard defeats last season, losing four penalty shoot-outs. We also have a lot of young players in and around the squad and they are trying to build courage, and they add energy to the squad.”
Looking ahead to this afternoon, former Newcastle United U23 and Vikingur Olafsvik defender Newberry insists that the Blues are well aware of the importance of approaching today’s match with the right mindset against a Loughgall team who have taken points off several of Linfield’s title rivals already this season.
“Loughgall are doing really well – they’ve come up and have been competitive, giving everyone a tough game and it was the case for us when we went down there last month. There’s no easy games in this league. We will expect a tough game. The manager puts 100% focus on each game and never looks beyond it – we will prepare well and despite what anyone says about the league table, we will just take each game as it comes along – if you do that, the table will take care of itself. You can’t cheat – we know we have to give 110% effort, no matter who we play against. The bottom six thing is a mentality thing – if we approach the game the same way we did for Cliftonville last week, then we will be fine.
“The gaffer picks the team and it’s not easy for him with so many good players at the Club. It goes without saying that I hope that I’ve done enough to earn another start against Loughgall, but I will just have to wait and see, and keep on working hard.”
Best wishes to Michael and his team mates in their pursuit of another vital three points today.