Whiteside: ‘I have played a lot of games which is brilliant’

COLERAINE defender Scot Whiteside reflects on his start to life as a Bannsider after joining the club on loan from Derry City in August…

Q1. Well Scot, how are you enjoying your loan spell with Coleraine? It must help that we have been on a very good run?

I’m enjoying my time at the club. It’s such a good time to be around the club as there’s such a buzz around the place. Everyone from the players and staff to the fans are enjoying every minute of it and long may it continue.

Q2. You have played a lot of games since your arrival – you must be happy with that? Would you like to make your loan move into a permanent one?

I have played a lot games which is brilliant. I started the season flying then I picked up a hamstring niggle which unfortunately made me lose my place in the team. With the team flying, I have to be ready for when my chance arises again. To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it as I’m a Coleraine player at the moment and that is all I’m concentrating on. I’m 20 now and I feel like I’m at the age where I just want to play regular football.

Q3. You have played at centre-half, right-back and on the right-hand side of midfield this season. Do you have any preferred position?

Centre-back is probably my best position and it’s the one I’ve played the least since joining the club. However, I enjoy right-back and I think I’ve settled in well there this season. The most important thing is that I’ll give 100% wherever Oran plays me.

Q4. Any results that stick out in your mind so far? You were brilliant in the 2-1 win away to Crusaders.

They have all been excellent results so far but the Crusaders one probably sticks out the most as everyone defended brilliantly that game. It’s hard enough to get a result at Seaview with 11 men, never mind playing a good part of the game with 10.

Q5. You have been part of a defensive unit that has conceded the least amount of goals in the Danske Bank Premiership so far – you must be delighted with that statistic?

As a defender, it’s always nice to have the best defensive record in the league so far but it’s still early doors. It will be a big target for us defenders to try and maintain that record for as long as we can.

Q6. Finally Scot, is there much of a difference between Irish League football and the Airtricity League?

There’s not that much of a difference. However, I would say that there’s a few more teams in the Airtricity League that play out from the back, whereas you probably wouldn’t get away with that in the Irish League.