Fleetwood Town’s latest recruit between the sticks, Jakub Stolarczyk sat down with the local media on Thursday afternoon at Poolfoot Farm ahead of Saturday's match against Derby County.
The 21-year-old joined the Cod Army on Monday after agreeing a season-long-loan from Premier League side, Leicester City.
The youngster discussed his hectic summer, his previous loan spells and his ambitions on the Fylde Coast after signing a new long-term deal at the Foxes.
Here is what he had to say ahead of the Derby match:
On the move and his few days in training…
“First of all, I am very excited to be here and I just wanted to get this deal done which I am glad it’s all sorted now. For me, since the start of the pre-season, I have wanted to get the message out there that I wanted to go out on-loan and get experience.
“Obviously I have come here to play games. That’s my main target but I know Jay Lynch has had a good spell and played well in games, so I know it won’t be easy to get his spot and I know when I get that opportunity, I need to take it. It will be good healthy competition between the goalkeepers, and I can’t wait.
“I don’t think it will take me long to get used to a new environment as I have had that experience at other Clubs and last year when I was on-loan at Dunfermline so that was new to me as well so it’s not a difficult transition for me like it might have been with the move to Scotland.
“Being on-loan at Dunfermline, it gives you the confidence that you’ve had people backing you like the fans and that’s always nice to have. It was a short time up in Scotland and I wish it was a longer spell as I really enjoyed myself there obviously it was unlucky to end the way it did and as I said, it was a massive experience for me and now I mow into a League One club, which is another step up in my career."
On Owain Fon Williams and head coach, Scott Brown…
“From working with Owain at Dunfermline, I know we get along as he is very similar to myself, he’s a hard-worker, a grafter and having him here is nice as it’s someone I know already in the building. It makes it easier to settle in.
“I know I will improve a lot during my time here under him as he knows how to work with me and for me, it’s going to be a good time here.
“With the manager, I met with him at one of the games when I was playing up at Dunfermline and that was it. That’s how I met him and then we are now working together. As a kid, I used to watch him play for Celtic in the Champions League and having him as manager is big for me.
I have heard lots of good things about him, and I just can’t wait to play under him as I feel he will be a good manager.”
On Kasper Schmeichel…
“Yes, Kasper has been a huge influence on me as I was training with his when I was 16/17-years-old and when training with a keeper who has had lot of experience, not just in the Premier League, but also in the lower leagues and having someone to talk to during lunch or breakfast, and as a young player myself, nobody can take that away from me. It’s now up to me to find a way of using those talks and time with Kasper to my advantage.”
On what Jakub likes to get up to in his free time…
“I don’t think it will surprise you all, but I do like to play video games, it’s one of my big things. I just takes me away from the real world and it’s something that relaxes and me helps me switch off. It also helps me keep connected to my friends back in Poland so that’s an easy way to stay in touch with them.
“I also like to watch movies, series and read books. I am actually reading one right now about Peter Schmeichel and that’s a good read. If I do ever get the chance to read, I will do. I have seen him once but haven’t had a chat with Peter – maybe I will get that chance in the future.”
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON JAKUB'S MOVE TO FLEETWOOD TOWN, PLEASE CLICK HERE!