Andy Cook interview: How the Bradford City forward became League Two’s answer to Erling Haaland | Soccer News

“Man is a machine, proper?!

Erling Haaland having scored 5 targets in opposition to RB Leipzig within the Champions League the day earlier than Andy Prepare dinner’s unique interview with sky sports activitiesthe Manchester Metropolis sensation – which, in reality, is an understatement at this stage – is first on the agenda.

In reality, it is virtually unimaginable to speak to Prepare dinner with out Haaland being a part of the dialog.

One performs within the prime flight, the opposite within the fourth tier, however have each scored with such consistency that they’ve sat atop the goalscoring charts of their respective divisions for almost all of the marketing campaign.

Prepare dinner has scored the third most targets in home league and cup competitions this season (23), behind solely Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom (24) and Haaland (29).

He’s additionally degree with Jonson Clarke-Harris of Peterborough on 28 targets in all home competitions this season, a determine bettered solely by the Norwegian’s 34 (excluding the Champions League).

Is he League Two’s reply to Haaland? “I will take that, after all!”

He did not begin the season as Mark Hughes’ first-choice quantity 9, however had the shirt in mid-August and had scored 16 targets and offered an help by Christmas.

“If somebody had instructed me if I’d be on that variety of targets at this stage, after the tip of final season, I’d have laughed at them and ripped their palms off,” he mentioned. . sky sports activities after being named Sky Guess League Two Participant of the Month in September 2022.

But it surely hasn’t been simple all alongside the way in which.

Following a 1-0 defeat at Carlisle on Boxing Day, Prepare dinner was changed by Vadaine Oliver in assault and didn’t begin as soon as in January, mustering simply 67 minutes on the pitch all through the month.

“I believe it was simply to refresh the staff, however I did not need to sit on the bench – I wished to be on the pitch, serving to the blokes,” Prepare dinner admits.

“I simply needed to smile and put up with it. I stored my head down, stored coaching properly and doing what I may once I obtained on the pitch.

“I’d say I dealt with it higher being a bit older. I used to let issues get the most effective of me and fear about what I had completed mistaken. Now I do know what I can do and what I used to be doing, so I do not see why I’d return to the staff with out scoring.

“To be sincere I got here again stronger I’d say. On the time I’d have mentioned I did not must get out of the staff, however possibly it was higher as a result of I got here again. firing on all cylinders immediately.”

That goes with out saying. Prepare dinner has began 9 video games since that first begin for the staff on Feb. 4, scoring seven targets and helping three extra.

Is he within the form of his life?

“Sure, 100%. This season has gone from good to higher – and it is getting even higher now.

“I am in a very good place. I scored final Saturday in opposition to Newport with the one likelihood I had and I at all times really feel, by the minute, that each likelihood I’ve, I will take it. I do not know if it is due to the way in which the season has gone or as a result of I am a bit older and wiser.

“I’d say I am additionally in higher form now than I used to be up to now. Once I was at Walsall we have been relegated and I scored 18 targets in all competitions in my first season in Ligue 1. I at all times been assured that I’d hit these numbers once more, it simply took a couple of extra years.

“After I left Walsall I have not actually performed a lot, if I am being sincere. I went on mortgage to Bradford, I obtained recreation time and also you’re comfortable whenever you play, so since I have been right here , I had a very good mindset and did sufficient for the gaffer to belief me to play week after week, which is a giant factor for me.”

If he maintains his present goals-per-game ratio of 0.56 and assists-per-game ratio of 0.13 for the remainder of the season, Prepare dinner will end with an extremely spectacular 29 targets and 6 assists in 50 video games to his identify and can have set a brand new private finest in objective return.

The quantity to beat is the 28 targets in all competitions he scored for Tranmere once they have been promoted from the Nationwide League in 2017/18.

With 11 video games to play, he has one objective in thoughts.

“I had one earlier within the season and I modified it now as a result of I touched it!” he is laughing.

“For the previous two seasons I’ve set myself a goal of 15-20 targets and now I’ve set a brand new one – if I attain it I will be ecstatic.”

It is even conceivable that he may equal or higher Paul Mullin’s Ligue 2 document of 32 targets – however as is usually the case with leaders, for now he will not expose what that objective seems like.

He’ll admire the numbers and settle for the applause when the job is completed.

“I get tagged in tweets the place I am in lists with Haaland, Marcus Rashford and other people like that, however I do not actually listen as a result of I need to take it recreation by recreation.

“Do not get me mistaken, it is loopy to see my identify in these lists and it is going to be one thing to look again on, particularly if we get to the place we need to be as a staff – promotion can be the icing on the cake. . “

Prepare dinner can also be content material to depart discussions over his future on the membership to a later date.

The 2-year contract he signed in June 2021 expires in simply over three months and he admits there have been no talks of an extension but.

It might be in Bradford’s finest pursuits that it keep that manner for now. Their talisman is heading for the Golden Boot and doubtlessly disrupting its stream with talks at this late stage within the marketing campaign may show detrimental to their promotion problem.

No matter occurs any longer, nevertheless, Prepare dinner appears destined for an additional crack at League One – whether or not with Bradford or not.