First summer recruit Carlton Ubaezuonu reacts to joining the club

United’s first summer recruit Carlton Ubaezuonu is looking forward to get going after joining the club from Chorley.

The 26-year-old arrives at the Attis Arena as Andy Butler’s first signing as Scunthorpe United boss, with the forward linking back up with the 40-year-old following time playing together at Farsley Celtic.

Speaking following the acquisition, Ubaezuonu said: “I’m excited to be here. It’s a big, big project and a big club. I got the call from Andy, I know him well from Farsley, and I’m very happy to be here.

“He’s very determined and wants to win every game. He works hard, and that’s his number one attribute. He’s a team player, and they’re attributes that bode well with me. I feel he deserves this new role that he has, and I’m grateful that he wants me to be here.

“Scunthorpe is a big club, and one that should be in the league. You look at the infrastructure, and it’s run well by good people and hopefully we can get the club back up.”

Until two seasons ago, the forward had spent every season of his career in the Republic of Ireland before positive seasons at Farsley and then Chorley, where he netted 15 league goals in the last campaign.

“I had a really good year with Chorley,” he continued. 

“It was a great team, great management and a great place, and I can only be thankful to them for giving me the platform to have this opportunity. Now this is an opportunity for me, with the same objectives, to come in and do well and score as many goals as I can.

“I’ve been full-time previously when I was younger, and it’s always been my ambition to go back into it. I think, getting this opportunity to do that again, in this league. It feels as though I’ve got a lot more to bring, so hopefully being full-time will help me.”

Ubaezuonu was asked about his experience of playing at the Attis Arena last December in what was a 3-0 win for the Iron, and then end of a long unbeaten run for the Magpies.

“My memories of that is missing a very big chance when we were flying,” he joked. 

“It was a good atmosphere, the fans were cheering the team on, and it was a good feeling. I still remember that feeling, and that also played a part in my decision. I wanted to be part of that. I want to do well for the fans, so I’m raring to go.

“I feel like I can bring goals for sure, energy, hard work and commitment. I just want to do well first and foremost. I want to help the team kick on. My main focus was to do well for the team, but personally I was happy with how many goals I scored last season, and I missed a few actually too. I could have scored more.

“I prefer up top as a striker, and I believe that’s where the manager wants me to play. I can play on the wing too, but I prefer to be up there. Danny (Whitehall) is a very good striker, and had a good year last season as well. He was very good against Chorley.”