Jon’s joy after he secures return to his ‘happy place’
JON Toral is ready to make new memories after his return to Birmingham City was completed. The 25-year-old is back at St Andrew’s for the first time since his outstanding loan spell in the 2015/2016 campaign.
On loan from Arsenal, the Spaniard scored eight goals in 38 games and swept the board at the end-of-season awards that year, operating as a No.10 in Gary Rowett’s functional team.
He has signed a one-year contract, with an option for a second campaign, and is hoping the return to his ‘happy place’ can bring to an end to a difficult time at Hull City.
“I am very excited, just happy to be back here and I can’t wait to get back on the pitch and help the club,” said Toral.
“As soon as they showed interest I told my agent I was really keen on it because of my past season here – on the pitch and off the pitch – as soon as that interest came I wanted to know more about everything going on. It was pretty simple.
“I am looking for that happiness again, that joy on the pitch and off the pitch. I am a parent now, show my kids what it means to be here and play for the club.
“I am an older, wiser player. There have been challenging times as well but I have learned from every place I have been since I left here. My loans in Spain and Scotland and the three years at Hull.
“Everything that has happened to me has made me wiser, more prepared to be here.
“It (Hull) was tough, first season I think it was all right, trying to adapt to a new club, new city, new surroundings. I think I did that, played quite a bit and helped the team find safety at the end of a difficult season.
“The last two were a bit complicated, I never found much of a run of games, a lot of things were happening, a lot of things that made me learn and know about myself more and have made me hungrier. I just can’t wait to get going and show everyone the player I can be. No-one is going to put more pressure than I am going to put on myself.
“I am just happy to be here, it just brings back so many happy memories, I just want to create more memories here.”
Toral also revealed the part Aitor Karanka played in bringing him back to the club – and spoke about the presence of former team-mates Maikel Kieftenbeld and David Davis.
“It was a big help,’’ he said. “He is a manager I have known about quite a bit even from my time in Spain, I am really excited to work under him. I just want to get as much information from him and learn from him.
“They are players I have been an opponent for the last few seasons, it will be nice to catch up with them and have familiar faces in the dressing room.
“I just can’t wait to get that connection (with the fans) back on and that fight together for one thing – that’s the football club. I am ready to do that.”