Jake Corbett programme article
Posted : 1st July 2019
Promising young midfielder Jake Corbett is hungry to make an impact in pre-season after getting a taste of first team football.
The 17 year-old made his Linfield first team debut against Coleraine on the final day of last season and told 'Look at Linfield' that the experience will drive him on.
"To make my debut last season for the first team was a great experience. To get my squad number, then to follow that up with getting game time felt amazing and that has made me work harder in pre-season to set myself higher targets for the new season coming in."
“If I get a chance in a few pre season games I’ll cherish the moment and grasp it by the neck as any player would. But no, If I’m not selected to play I’m still a young player with a lot on front of me to look forward to and I’ll go back to the training ground where I’ll work harder.”
The energetic midfielder joined Linfield u16 from Crusaders and progressed into Linfield Swifts who he captained to the League and Youth Cup last season, and in his time at the Club he believes he has grasped the mentality needed to pull on the blue jersey.
“I’ve been at Linfield a few years now and yes mentality plays a part in it but mentality and Linfield mentality are two completely different definitions.The Linfield mentality is playing for the badge, go put a show on, back each-other no matter what, play as a team, work as a team and a never-say-die attitude which as a whole makes Linfield the team that it is.”
Jake - from Dromore, Co.Down - has recently returned with the squad from a five-day training camp in Marbella, Spain and he spoke of the experience of being involved.
"Being asked to come to Marbella for a training camp was unbelievable. It was a nervous yes but the squad that’s around me made it a lot easier to settle down and go. It’s different. The sessions were tough but myself and the squad adapted very well and were playing some really good football ahead of the first few pre season games."
"From what I’ve witnessed and trained with the last 2-3 weeks, the group have really set their own individual and collective targets higher than ever to go as far as they can in the European fixtures. The whole squad has really grown now and brighter things are still yet to come."
“Playing for the manager is more educational than anything as he’s been to the top level so learning off someone like him on a daily basis has and will improve my abilities.”