South Shields midfielder Will Jenkins interviewed

South Shields midfielder Will Jenkins on establishing himself in the Mariners squad this season.

Transcript

00:00Managers had a lot of experience working with young players in Newcastle and Sunderland.

00:03Do you feel that's benefiting yourself as a young player, but also the lads who come

00:07through the academy?

00:08Definitely.

00:09I mean, if you look at our squad, it's a very young squad this year.

00:10I think everyone who's here understands what the gaff is about, how he's been in previous

00:14clubs, what he's done with young players.

00:16So I think it's a really good place for young players to be and to grow.

00:19And obviously, coming through the academy myself, it's great to see, obviously, they're

00:23using the academy more, which is great as well.

00:25What do you feel you learnt last season?

00:26Because obviously you had a great half-season at Mopeth and the back of a great season at

00:31Dunstan.

00:32What do you feel you've learnt at both those clubs?

00:34I think just learning the consistency required to play at a good level, I think, is one thing.

00:39So I think I was always a good player, but did I have the consistency and could I do

00:43it on a weekly basis?

00:44I think having that regular game time helps anyone as a young player, just playing regular

00:47games.

00:48Dunstan was a bit different in terms of style of play.

00:50I mean, the pitches weren't great, but you've got to learn how to deal with it and how to

00:54play.

00:55Mopeth obviously had a perfect pitch with the Astro too, so I've had a good mix of

00:58that and just getting that experience really and being able to play.

01:03When you look at this season, obviously there was real disappointment last year with the

01:06play-offs and just missing out, despite the fact it was the club's first season at the

01:11level as well.

01:12But this year, does it feel a little more settled?

01:14Do you feel as if you've moved on from that disappointment?

01:16I think so, yeah.

01:17I mean, it's tough to take, obviously, that back-end last year, how well we finished the

01:20season.

01:21But I think this season's fresh, it's new, we've got a new squad, new ideas.

01:24I think we've just got to take each game as it comes and hopefully try and better our

01:27league position from last year.