COBBLERS CHANCE CRUCIAL FOR SHAY
HE’S rubbed shoulders with Premier League superstars at Manchester City, but Shay Facey believes he needs the buzz of first team football at Northampton.
The 23-year-old was associated with City for more than a decade.
He also had a loan spell with New York City in 2015 when he played in the same team as Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa.
That American adventure is a thing of the past.
Likewise is the experience of training alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva from time to time.
Earlier this month, the defender joined the Cobblers on an 18-month deal for an undisclosed fee.
He had no qualms about dropping down to League One after failing to burst through the glass ceiling at his boyhood club.
“It was a great time being at a club like City, but I have just turned 23 and there comes a time when you want to be playing first-team football,” said the former England Under-20 international.
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“There is tough competition for places here at Northampton, but you have a more realistic chance of being involved on a regular basis than you do at a club like City.
“As you get older and you get more experience, you are desperate for the buzz of first-team football, where results matter, where your performances are in the spotlight.
“I was ready to make that move.
“I was fortunate to have a fantastic grounding and, hopefully, I can put that to use in first-team football now.
“I think, coming from a club like Manchester City, you get used to being around worldclass players and seeing how they conduct themselves.”
This month, Facey has been joined by Portuguese winger Hildeberto Pereira, 21, on loan from Legia Warsaw, wide man Jack Bridge, 22, from Southend, and utility man Joe Bunney, 21, from Rochdale.
The Cobblers have also signed 23-year-old defender Jordan Turnbull from Coventry and goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell, 29, from Rotherham.
He is certain his new manager, former Chelsea and Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbeen baink, will succeed in his quest to hoist Northampton away from the relegation trapdoor.
“You can only have respect for someone who is one of the great strikers of the Premier League era,” said Facey, who is a full-back by trade but can also operate centrally.
“You can learn so much from someone like Jimmy, but it isn’t just his record as a player. It is his work as a coach and as a manager that is top-class.
“He is very determined. He knows what he wants and training is very tough. Our prematch preparation is excellent and nothing is left to chance.
“I think we have a lot of ability in the squad.
“Of course, the league table doesn’t lie, but I am confident we have the players and the staff to move out of danger.
“We have to take things one step at a time.”
Ahead of the weekend, Facey had enjoyed a rip-roaring start to life as a Northampton player, helping his new team to back-to-back wins over Southend and Bradford.
Adapting
Before putting pen to paper on January 5, the new Cobblers signing, who has also had loan spells with Rotherham and Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen, had already training with Hasselbaink’s squad and he anticipates no problems adapting to life in the East Midlands.
Facey added: “I had been training here for a few weeks, so I was already feeling very settled even before I signed.
“I am used to settling in to places quickly and finding my feet. I have enjoyed every minute here so far. I hope that continues.”