Why Tommy Conway is playing ‘with chest puffed out’ at Middlesbrough

Why Tommy Conway is playing ‘with chest puffed out’ at Middlesbrough



This time last year, while Conway had just arrived from Bristol City, Boro also boasted Emmanuel Latte Lath within their attacking ranks. When Latte Lath left to join Atlanta United in January, the Teessiders brought in Kelechi Iheanacho on loan from Sevilla.

While there are likely to be attacking reinforcements before this summer’s transfer window closes, Conway will be starting the season with a huge amount of attacking expectation on his shoulders.

The 22-year-old accepts that brings a fair amount of pressure, but is more than happy to embrace the challenge.

“I love that,” said Conway, who scored both of Boro’s goals as they completed their pre-season programme with a 2-2 draw with Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. “I embrace it.

“I was speaking to one of my good friends, Andy King, about a similar thing the other day. He said that now he’s retired, he misses the thrill and the pressure of being expected to deliver. He misses having to live up to that.

“I feel like that really hit home for me. When I went away from that chat with him, I was thinking, ‘Yeah, this is why I’m here. This is what I want’. When I’m retired, I’ll miss this, so I’m going to step up and thrive on that.

“I’ve felt a different sort of player this summer really. It’s been chest puffed out, I’m ready to do the job and lead the line for Boro. Hopefully, I can make a good job of that in the season.”

READ MORE:

In the early weeks of last season, Conway was having to get used to his new surrounds. He only completed his £4.5m move from Bristol City in mid-August, so was having to play catch-up as the new Championship season began.

This time around, while there has been a certain amount of inevitable upheaval following the departure of Michael Carrick and appointment of Rob Edwards, there has also been a large amount of continuity from last term.

Conway is hoping that will help him to hit the ground running when the real business begins with a home game against Swansea City this weekend.

“I’ve felt pretty settled this summer,” said the Scotland international. “You see the squad from last year, and you see the squad now, and there’s quite a lot of continuity.

“Obviously, there’s a new manager and a new way of playing, but there are partnerships and understandings that are still there. In some ways, it feels like we’ve been able to carry on a lot of things from last year, it’s not like you’ve had to get used to a completely new way of everything on the pitch.

“I think that does help, although when and if people do come in, and you’ve got to build that connection, then so be it.

“But last year, from playing with people like Morgs [Whittaker], Della [Burgzorg], Aidan [Morris] and some of the other lads in midfield, I think you do know what they like and it’s easier to implement some of the stuff you’re trying to do.”



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *