Fleetwood Town defender Carl Johnston spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the Sky Bet League One fixture away at play-off hopefuls, Bolton Wanderers.
Johnston came through the Fleetwood Town Academy and was a permanent figure in Simon Wiles' side before making the step into the first team just over 18-months ago.
The young Northern Ireland Under-21 international has featured 29 times this season and could be embarking on his 50th appearance for the club if selected to face Ian Evatt's Bolton Wanderers this weekend.
Here's what CJ had to say in this pre-match interview:
On potentially making his 50th appearance this season...
“It has been a bit of a roller-coaster journey if I am being honest. Last year, I broke into the side and we were in a relegation battle whereas this season, we have been managed to perform better and see ourselves higher up the table at this stage of the season.
“As a group, I have relaxed a little bit more in terms of my performances compared to last year. There was a lot of pressure on me as a young player breaking into the team and also being part of that relegation scrap. This year, I have been more myself.
“I broke into the team just before Christmas and scored my first goal in the game away at MK Dons and from there I was in the team a lot until I got injured and it set me back for 4-5 weeks but coming back was tough.
“I have played in the last three games and we’ve picked up seven points from those matches, so I am happy with how things have gone since coming back.”
On the differences from last season...
“When looking at this season to last, they both have positives for me as a player. It was tough breaking into the side but now I have that experience under my belt and also playing in those big pressure games.
This year, I have played more games and the pressure has been off my shoulders a little bit and I have been able to express myself on the pitch and I hope people have seen that in the performances.
“In football, you always need that bit of luck and at the stage of the season around Christmas and New Year, we got that bit of luck. It changed our fortunes as we saw one point turn into three and zero points into one point and that saw us climb the table.
“We all have a point to prove in the last two matches. I want to go out there and show why I should stay in the team, and there are also lads who are fighting for contracts and players who might be up and looking elsewhere.
“The season is far from done!"
On the last 18-months and Bolton Wanderers...
“It has been a great 18-months for me, and I feel I gave more to give. In terms of numbers, I think that’s an area that can improve and that comes with goals and assists over the coming seasons. Clean sheets are always a good bonus aren’t they as a defender.
“With Bolton, they are up there for a reason as they are a good side. We know as a group that we can go to sides like Bolton and pick up all three points, we’ve shown that at Ipswich getting a point, Peterborough we went there and got the win and also Derby and we’ve got some good points against those up at the top of the table.
“We go into every game wanting to get three points and it will be the same this Saturday against Bolton. We want to finish as high as we can in the league table and I know that’s a cliché at this stage of the season, but the manager expects us to go out there and win, and as players, we put that on ourselves and for us it’s another three points for us to get.
“Last year they didn’t have anything to play for and we did, but the tables have turned and last year they showed that they wanted to win and we are going to be the same come Saturday.”