Source: FOOTYMAD
Jutkiewicz would trade personal glory for team success
Striker happy with awards, but would prefer promotion Lukas Jutkiewicz, who won the Young Player of the Year award at Coventry City this year has said he would like to work harder, score more goals and win the senior award, but he would trade any personal honours if it meant his side were more successful and pushed for promotion. The 22 year old, who signed for Coventry City from Everton last summer, scored nine goals in his first season and is determined to score a lot more goals next season. Jutkiewicz said, “It would be nice to get more awards next season but the most important thing for me is to be successful with the team and I’d sooner see us getting higher up the table and pushing for promotion than winning individual awards, but if you are successful individually and as a team then hopefully they will go hand in hand." “It’s a nice touch to the end of the season to get the young player award and a good feeling to take into the summer. It is my first season in the Championship and I have enjoyed it and it is nice to get recognition for all the hard work you have put in.” He was asked about the highlights in his first season at Coventry City and he replied, “Signing for Coventry in the first place was a massive boost for me and something I had been looking forward to all last summer." “I had heard Coventry were interested in taking me and that it was a possibility, so joining was probably the highlight and then it has been more of a season of progression. I am now really looking forward to next season and hopefully being stronger.” He has no regrets leaving the Premier League for the Championship, in part because he is now playing regular league football rather than being on the bench, playing for the reserves or being on loan. He was on loan from Everton at Motherwell prior to joining Coventry where he made 36 appearances and scored 12 goals. “I had been up there and going on loan here and there and playing a few games, and I had a good season in Scotland last year, but I felt it was really important to go and test myself with a full season in the Championship and hopefully I can improve further next season." “I finished with nine goals which isn’t bad but it is not something I am absolutely delighted with. I didn’t really set out with a specific target and I am happy with nine but I want to improve upon it because I am never entirely satisfied." “It has been a solid start to my career here and I hope to improve on that and be successful with Coventry.” Jutkiewicz, like many of the other players, is enjoying the freedom and attacking football under Andy Thorn and is confident that the new style of play will lead to him scoring more frequently and more prolifically. Jutkiewicz said, “I had an end of season meeting with the manager and we spoke about it because I have enjoyed the way we have been playing under Andy. I feel it is creating more chances because we are getting the ball in the final third more where we can hurt teams and it has shown, for me personally, that I have scored a lot more goals since he has taken over, so it has been really good.” Now the season is over, Jutkiewicz is planning a summer holiday to relax before returning to prepare for the pre-season training. He explained, "I feel it is important to have a couple of weeks doing nothing so I can switch off mentally and physically. I am going to Las Vegas with my friends and then Barbados with my girlfriend to just chill out, and do a little bit of fitness work and be back for pre-season.”
