Cassidy targets success from a permanent base

JAKE CASSIDY

Described by former manager Lee Johnson as a home for the unloved, Athletic’s recruitment strategy has again this summer been on collecting players who haven’t fulfilled their potential at bigger clubs.

This season they are David Cornell of Swansea, George Green of Everton and arguably most important of all, given his position, Jake Cassidy of Wolves.

“This is a chance not just for myself, but for other players in the squad, to get back to playing and enjoying their football again,” said the 22-year-old Welshman.

You might imagine representing one of the biggest clubs in the Midlands, or assisting Southend to promotion, would satisfy a striker who began his career as a free-scoring 16-year-old at Llandudno Junction.

But Cassidy feels that in five years in the professional game, this is his best chance yet to focus purely on football: “You never get a chance to settle down when you are passed from pillar to post,” he explained. “There are always other factors at play that you concentrate on more.

“Wolves are a massive club and is always going to be able to go out and buy someone for £2million. I had opportunities there and I am in a way disappointed I didn’t fulfil my potential. But it is part of developing. I think it has made me a better player.”

Athletic’s hope is that Cassidy has yet to fully bloom. At Molineux, he made only 25 first-team appearances (14 from the bench) without scoring. There were loan spells at Tranmere, and last season he spent the latter half of the year at Southend, barely featuring as the club reached the League Two play-offs.

“It was a difficult situation at Southend on and off the field, and I didn’t get as much of an

opportunity as I deserved,” he said. “Managers have their reasons. It wasn’t a very enjoyable time but they got themselves promoted and a few of the players down there deserved that.”

He appreciates being seen as much more than a bit-player in filling the roaming, traditional centre-forward vacancy Athletic has craved.

“Whenever I have played against Oldham, the side has always seemed to lack that sort of player and that has been backed up by people I have talked to here. Hopefully I can fill that void.”

Athletic are rated as outsiders for success in the league: “If everyone pulls together I am sure results will come,” added Cassidy. “Then it’s about maintaining that form. You have bad spells, but it’s how you overcome them.”

twitter: @Matt_Chambers_