WE’VE BOTH PLAYED IN
CENTRAL MIDFIELD FROM THE
START AND I THINK THAT’S
GIVEN US BOTH A VERY GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF EACH
OTHER’S GAMES
same time. I feel like if it was to happen now I wouldn’t be as
nervous because I’ve got that experience, but I was nervous
with it being the first time at Anfield.THE ARSENAL GAME FINISHED 5-5 AND WENT TO
PENALTIES. WOULD YOU HAVE TAKEN ONE IF YOU GOT ON?
Jake: Ooooh [looks intently at Leighton]!
Leighton: Erm, I didn’t take one in the Youth Cup final last
season because I’d gone off, so I don’t know. I’d have had to
have seen in the moment how I was feeling. Obviously you
don’t know how you’re going to feel until you get a moment
like that, so I can’t really say if I’d have taken one.JAKE, YOU WEREN’T INVOLVED IN EITHER GAME – OR THE
CARABAO CUP QUARTER-FINAL AT ASTON VILLA. HOW
WERE YOU FEELING WATCHING YOUR ACADEMY TEAM-
MATES GET OPPORTUNITIES?
Jake: Of course I was happy for them because they’ve been
working hard to get that moment. I was pleased for them to
get their chance, but on my behalf it was disappointing not to
get selected. It gave me more determination to keep pushing
on and show that, if other people can do it, then so can I. It
was the same for the Aston Villa game, it was disappointing
not to be selected for that too.
Leighton: I made my debut against Aston Villa in the Carabao
Cup and, having experienced being on the bench against
MK Dons and Arsenal, I wasn’t really as nervous. Obviously
we took a very young team with us to that game, so it was
different again. When I knew I was coming on about 15
minutes from the end we were 4-0 down, but I just wanted to
get out there and prove to the right people what I can do and
why I should have started the game.