Matty Daly 38 Mansfield Town

MATTY DALY

0.012%. The percentage of players in youth academies across England who have the opportunity to play at least one minute of Premier League football. Therefore, when Huddersfield Town loanee Matty Daly was released by Everton at the age of 14 the professional footballer dream could seem to some like it was slipping away... Words: Nickolas McInally

However, despite his release Daly looks back with fond memories – “I was young and it gave me a lot of experience. We went away and played in a lot of tournaments and as a young kid I was training twice a week and playing at the weekend so it was fun. Naturally as you get older, it becomes more serious but I really enjoyed my time with Everton.“

A move to Huddersfield Town quickly followed for the goal scoring midfielder. Daly admits it didn’t take long to convince him that The Terriers were right choice for him.

He explained: “I went down to Huddersfield and really enjoyed it from the first minute. The set up was great and the staff were really positive towards me. When I experienced that I Just knew that it was a great opportunity for me.”

After signing for the club almost four years prior, the April of 2019 brought a Premier League debut for the then 18-year-old as he came on in a narrow defeat to Watford.

Speaking on the occasion, he said: “I had been on the bench a few times before I actually got on. One of the lads picked up an injury and I came on in the 42nd minute. We played Watford at home and it was a great experience. The one thing I remember is how high the standard was.

“This was my first taste of senior football, previously I had played a lot of academy football but the difference between the two is quite big.”

“My family had travelled to any game where I made the bench before my debut because they knew there was a chance I could play. They even travelled to Brighton just to see if I would come on.So to make my debut in front of them was just a perfect moment. I think they were a bit relieved that I had achieved that but for me it was all about kicking on after that. I felt good enough to be in and around it when I made my debut and I was always looking to back myself.”

For several professional footballers, the opportunity to represent their county on a national level is an honour of the highest regard. However, few are fortunate enough to achieve this accolade.

Despite his age of 21, this is an experience which Daly has been fortunate enough to hold. The attacking midfielder has been chosen to represent England on a number of occasions at U17s and U18s level.

Reflecting on the achievement, Town’s number 28 believes the exposure to this environment helped him to improve as a player.

He revealed: “I really appreciate the opportunity I was given to represent my country. The coaching staff especially showed a belief in me as a young lad and every day I was there trained hard to make sure I took advantage of the opportunity.

“Working with different coaches and different players helps to make you a better player. You’re playing with the best players in the country at your age so it was a great opportunity to improve.”

Despite scattered involvement, it was a move to fellow League 2 side Hartlepool United where Daly experienced his first taste of regular first team involvement.

This was a move which Daly felt was important to continue his development.

He explained: “Hartlepool was an exciting move for me, it was a challenge and fresh chapter in my career. I think it was a challenge which I needed. I had spent a lot of time in Huddersfield and in academy football.

“This was the first time I moved away from home and took myself out my comfort zone personally and professionally. I overcome that challenge in many ways during my time at Hartlepool. I really enjoyed my time there and it helped me to mature and learn a bit more about first team football.

“As a player, I always want to be an attacking threat and there I think I was. I scored seven goals in the first half of the season but that’s the bar now and I want to score more here.”

It was form which led to Daly’s recall to Huddersfield during the January transfer window of 2022 and as he looked to make an impact on his return the midfielder was pleased with his progress.

He said: “As a whole it was the first step in the right direction for me in senior football. The club wanted to see if I could make an impact for Huddersfield but that wasn’t to be so they wanted to get me back out and playing on loan so I joined Bradford City.”

However, despite a strong start to the 21/22 season, a foot injury plagued Daly’s time with our Yorkshire rivals.

Speaking on the injury, he explained: “I picked up a significant foot injury when I joined Bradford. I had to get an operation which set me quite far back. It was frustrating for me because I just wanted to get on the pitch and do what I do best but I couldn’t just play through the pain.

“If I had of tried that, it would have impacted me this season and I didn’t want to have the situation dragging on for any longer. I had a lot of momentum with me at the time which all just stopped but I was able to get the issue resolved and start a fresh.”

A move to Town materialised in the summer transfer window and the club’s top scorer this season is looking to carry on his form in to the new year.

He said: “I’m on five goals already going in to November and that is something which I want to carry on. Looking ahead there is a lot of football to be played so going in to January and the new year I want to be in good form.

“I’m here to put numbers on the board, I want to create and score and I enjoy my football doing that. If I am providing that to the team then it will please the manager, coaches and the fans.”

“I’m really enjoying my football here just now. The group of players we have here is great, the lads are great and everyone gets along well. When it comes to business as well everyone is bang on it.”

And this delight is shared with Daly’s parent club Huddersfield Town who are pleased with the midfielders development.

He revealed: “They are really happy with my development and the amount of minutes I am getting this season. That’s all part of a learning process but I think between myself, Huddersfield and this club we are all happy with how I am doing which is great.”

Having featured alongside Alex Pattison and Josh Falkingham in recent weeks, the 21-year-old believes the opportunity to play alongside these experienced professionals has improved him in the opening months of the campaign

He said: “When you have people around you who have a lot of experience is always a benefit. For me, they are always helping me whether that be in games or in training, they have high standards in everything they do.

“They are always encouraging me to go out and express myself and contribute to the attack but it’s also about working hard defensively and it’s good to play alongside them, working together as a team.”

In reflecting on the sides start to the season Daly believes he is in a great environment to continue his development as a player.

He explained: “The style of football we play suits me very well. We haven’t had the best of starts but I have learned a lot here and I think it’s paying off now. As a player I put pressure on myself to provide for the team. I am here to do that every week and when we start picking up results it will be even better.”

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