Campbell striving to reach Premier League as he adds guile to graft
IF big moves were earned on hard work alone, Allan Campbell might be destined for Real Madrid. The Motherwell midfielder is held up as a role model for the youngsters at Fir Park when it comes to his application and determination to make the most of the talent he has.
Luckily for him, he has also been richly blessed in that department, establishing himself as a mainstay of Stephen Robinson’s side as they stormed to a third-place finish in last season’s Premiership.
For now, that is more than enough for Campbell to be concentrating on. He can’t help but have noticed though the slew of Scottish midfielders who are currently making waves in the English Premier League, including his Scotland under-21 team-mate Billy Gilmour, and perhaps wondered if his combination of grit, graft and increasing guile will one day take him down a similar path.
If – or indeed, when – he moves up a level, no one among his peers will have worked harder for the opportunity than the unassuming 22-year-old.
“All credit to them,” Campbell told The TwoPointOne website in an exclusive interview. “They’ve gone down there and they’re making an impression. They’re not just playing, they’re putting their stamp on games.
“They’re players that I look up to and I strive to get to that level and do well at that level. I believe in myself that I can get to that level. It’s just about doing the hard work. They didn’t get there easily. They did the hard work and got the chance to play at that level.
“So, my goal is to make sure I keep working hard and doing what I can do and hopefully if that time comes I can get to the highest level that I can get to and do well at it.”
The development in Campbell’s game is unmistakable under his manager Robinson, with an attacking threat now complementing the natural combative elements of his play. He managed six goals from midfield last season, adding weight to his argument that his best position is now a little further forward than in years past.
“[I’m] probably a box-to-box midfielder,” he said. “I like to be in the thick of things and right in the middle of the park, defending and attacking. Just getting stuck in about it and being involved in the game.
“I’d happily play anywhere. Anywhere the manager put me on the park I’d happily play as long as I get to play football. That’s what it’s all about. [But] I feel as though I’ve got to know the game and my own position a lot more. Which just comes from the experience of playing more.
“When I first made my debut it was all about getting one or two games but now I’ve played a great number of games and I’m proud of that. I just need to keep my head down and keep working hard and getting as many more games as I can.
“I do think I’ve always been confident and believed in myself. I just need to keep practicing on my weaknesses and make sure I come back every season a wee bit better.”
Whether that does take him south or as far as the Bernabau remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Scotland under-21 skipper has his sights on graduating to the senior ranks in the dark blue.
“That’s every boy’s dream, to play for his country,” he said. “I just need to keep doing what I’m doing at Motherwell and those chances will come.”
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