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February 22, 2003
(Saturday)
Matt has no
problems with Woody tag
YOUNG UNITED (Leeds)
defender Matthew Kilgallon has no problems at all with
being labelled the new Jonathan Woodgate, and takes it as a huge
compliment every time someone makes the comparison.
The 19-year-old centre-half has been given his chance this season,
making two substitutes appearances for Terry Venables, and has
blossomed by establishing himself as a first team member, and apart
from his appearance the resemblance to Woody is striking.
The spiky blonde haired defender has already been mistaken once or
twice for the former United hero, and supporters at Thursday night's
reserve team game have taken to calling him Woody. Even watching
Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson could see the funny side of their
jovial chants.
What Sir Bobby won't have missed is how, just like Woodgate, he reads
the ball superbly and has a great spring in him that enables him to
outjump just about anybody.
Kilgallon is by now well used to being called Woody now, and knows
that as long as that continues, he's on the right track as he looks
forward to a long career with Leeds ahead of him.
"I've had a bit of stick for that, but it's not bad to be called
Woody, it's a compliment that I love," said Matthew, who is
disappointed he won't be able to welcome his old pal back to Elland
Road this season.
"I just have to keep playing well in the reserves and hopefully I'll
turn out like him. I like the challenge of being called Woody,
hopefully I won't have any bad games and just keep being consistent."
He was given his Premiership debut against West Ham the other week,
and that was as big an occasion for him, if not bigger, as making his
first appearance for United against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup
earlier this season.
"I loved it, every three or four minutes of it and I came on for a
corner as well, but it was a great experience and hopefully I'll get
some more opportunities. It was just the whole playing at Elland Road
thing that made it so special."
Whilst dreaming of his next game for United, he knows that he can't
afford to let any complacency get into his game or afford to relax in
his quest of becoming - as the fans have put it - the next Jonathan
Woodgate.
"In training you just have to put your best performances in all the
time, if you're not doing well in training there are other young
centre-halves players coming through all the time and Leeds will say
that if you're not doing it in training then other people have
overtaken you.
"Woodgate used to tell me what to do, but he's gone now, all of them
are good, Radebe, Dom and Duberry even though he shouts at you he
talks to you through the game and he means well.
"I love watching Lucas Radebe because he has so much time on the ball
and is so composed, and Dom is always great because when you're
playing at the back with him he just keeps you steady and talks you
along. I love playing with them.
"If you listen to them you'll get further."
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