Kevin van Veen explained how he is ready to ‘keep fighting’ to start games, speaking ahead of this weekend’s home clash against Gillingham.
The 26-year-old made it five goals in seven starts last weekend, when he equalised against Portsmouth.
He is now focused on continuing his form and is feeling confident ahead of this weekend. The Dutchman discussed his goals, Gillingham and his new teammates in an interview with iFollow Iron.
ON HIS RECENT RUN OF GOALS…
KVV: I’ve been working hard to try and get my place in the team. When I got my chance I grabbed it with both hands. It’s going very well up to this point and long may it continue.
ON HOW IT AFFECTS HIS CONFIDENCE…
KVV: It gives you a bit more confidence. I’ve been on the bench for a while and I’m glad to be back now. I need to keep fighting to wear this shirt at the weekend and not give anyone a chance to grab an opportunity that would put me on the bench again.
ON HIS CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF TO CONTINUE HIS RUN OF FORM…
KVV: I’m very confident. I’m a player who can create as well as score, so I’m happy if I can put someone else in front of the goal. At the moment, everything is coming to my feet in the box and I’m being clinical so I’m happy with the goals and I want to score a lot more.
"At the moment, everything is coming to my feet in the box and I’m being clinical so I’m happy with the goals and I want to score a lot more."
ON WHAT THE TEAM CAN TAKE INTO SATURDAY’S GILLINGHAM MATCH…
KVV: We weren’t that good in the first-half at Portsmouth but in the second-half we were very good. We need to continue playing like we did in that second-half.
ON HOW DIFFERENT IT WILL BE TO PLAY GILLINGHAM THIS TIME AROUND…
KVV: They've had a lot of good results lately, but so have we. Everyone is confident and it feels very good in the dressing room.
ON HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THE FANS WILL HAVE…
KVV: They will have a big impact. A lot of fans travelled to Portsmouth away so a lot of respect goes out to them for that. When it’s not going well or how you wanted, the fans can give you that extra push.
ON PARTNERING UP WITH TOM HOPPER…
KVV: Last year, Hops (Tom Hopper) and myself did very well. We can all work together but me and Hopps have a bit of a spark and have been doing well since last season. We haven’t lost yet whilst playing with each other, which is very good. However, we are all good strikers in this squad and can all work with each other.
ON WORKING WITH IVAN TONEY IN THE FUTURE…
KVV: Ivan did really well when he was here and he’s a good striker. He’s got trickery. As long as you’re playing on Saturday, it doesn’t matter who you play with because you need to fight for yourself to be playing. That’s because there’s so much competition for the shirt. Hops and I are playing at the moment but there are so many strikers that aren’t playing but knocking on the door. We need to keep fighting and doing well, or someone else will do it.
ON HOW THE NEW LADS ARE SETTLING IN…
KVV: I think they are all doing well. We have Ryan (Yates), who is having his operation, and Cam (McGeehan). I think that they are all doing well, as the squad has a lot of funny characters. It’s a good squad, a good dressing room and I’m hoping that they’ll give us the push at the end of the season.
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