Slicker delighted to learn from the best for club and country
NOT many goalkeepers around the world boast quite as impressive a list of role models to learn from as Scotland Under-21 shot-stopper Cieran Slicker.
The Manchester City talent has been involved at a firstteam level and learns up-close and personal with veteran Scott Carson, US keeper Zack Steffen and Brazil No.1 Ederson.
And it’s not only at a club level where Slicker looks up to senior pros, with Scotland boasting impressive goalkeepers in recent history – with Craig Gordon a perfect role model for Slicker, even if he’s not worked alongside the Hearts stopper quite yet.
Gordon was in the stands at Tynecastle – as well as Billy Gilmour, Lyndon Dykes, Lewis Ferguson and Aaron Hickey – as Slicker put on an impressive showing despite Scotland’s 2-0 loss to Turkey in European Championship qualifying.
“I didn’t know. It’s nice for them to turn up after their game on Thursday,” said Slicker when asked if he was aware of the national team backing from the senior squad.
“It’s always good to have support from them guys who have been through these stages.
“You look at Craig, what he’s doing at the minute, it’s amazing.
“From having the career he has had and still going at the end point of his career he is doing amazing. “Looking up to him is a great one to have.”
Slicker – who has been at Manchester City since he was seven – was handed a debut in a friendly against Preston last year – but his debut was cruelly ended just 11 minutes after coming on.
He had replaced Steffen in the 2-0 win but was forced off on a stretcher after a collision competing for the ball. However, it’s not dented his progress as he features regularly in first-team training and has made the bench in Champions League squads.
On his City debut, Slicker said: “It was in pre-season and I have come on for Zack.
“A through ball came in and it’s 50-50 and I got knocked out.
“I lasted about 11 minutes.
It took me about a week or two to recover but I was fine after that.
“I’ve been with the first-team quite a lot this year. Being with the best players it is great for me to pick up as much as I can when I’m there.
“Pep is the best manager in the world so I’m taking as much what he’s saying to the team on board for me and trying to bring that with me for the rest of my career.
“The keepers are the main ones [influences]. Like Scott, Zack, and Eddie.
“They’ve been great for me. Even just watching them, being close to them I learn so much.
“It’s ridiculous. The speed of the game, the little 5-a-side games you play, if you are not switched on 100 per cent you are going to know about it for sure.”
Slicker and his Scotland under-21 team-mates now head to Kazakhstan in their next UEFA Championship qualifying fixture – but with Peter Houston admitting qualification is likely out of reach it’ll be about restoring pride after a humbling loss to a physical Turkey side.
On the upcoming fixture, and reflecting on the Turkey loss, Slicker said: “When you’ve got a lot to do as a keeper it’s not great for the team.
“I was trying to do my bit but then others on the pitch have got to step up to do theirs I suppose. It’s a hard one to take.
“I think we all expected the Kazakhstan match to be at a neutral venue but it’s ended up being there. “We’ll try to settle down there as quickly as we can and have a good performance on Tuesday.”