Preparation key to Ahmed’s fresh start

Jul 18 2007 by Peter Guy, Liverpool Daily Post

ADNAN AHMED appreciates, perhaps better than anyone in the Prenton Park dressing room, the importance of taking maximum benefit out of the pre-season programme.

The midfielder, the first of Tranmere summer signings, blames many of the frustrations of last two years of his developing career at Huddersfield Town on untimely close-season injuries that kept him idle at a crucial time.

They caused Ahmed to miss out on the tough but necessary pre-season work and to fall behind his team-mates in fitness and sharpness when the league campaigns started.

As a result, a player widely regarded as an exciting prospect when he broke into the Terriers’ first-team in the 2004-05 season struggled to maintain his progress at the Galpharm Stadium.

He played only 10 first-team games last season, and 14 the season before that.

The 23-year-old was released by Huddersfield in May and snapped up in double quick time by Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore.

Ahmed said: “When I first broke into the first-team at Huddersfield I felt I did really well. But the last two seasons have been a bit of a nightmare for me. The biggest problem was I missed the last two pre-seasons with injury – and this is the worst possible time to be unable to work.”

He went on: “After that you are always trying to catch up with the other players – and that can be difficult. When you do start playing again you’re not as sharp as the other lads.

“You need five or six games to get up to speed. When the team needs to be winning, then you sometimes don’t get those five or six games.”

Ahmed is relieved to put those frustrations behind him in what he calls a “fresh start” at the Prenton Park.

He has gained the benefit of the demanding first two weeks of fitness work with Rovers.

Supporters were able to see flashes of Ahmed’s skills in the second half of Tranmere’s opening pre-season friendly against Cammell Laird last Saturday and he is due another 45 minute appearance against Heswall tonight (kick-off 7pm).

Moore said: “When Adnan first came into the game he looked like he was going to be a world beater. He lost his way a little bit and picked up one or two little knocks. But I think if we can treat him right and look after him, we will get the best out of him.

“He showed some nice touches against Lairds, got on the ball and passed it well.”

Ahmed says he is pleased with his new surroundings and the set-up at Tranmere.

He said: “I was at Huddersfield for seven years and I felt I needed a change. This is a new opportunity for me.

“I’ve been impressed with the facilities here, the coaching staff have been great and everyone has been very friendly.

“I want to put the last couple of years behind and make a fresh start.”

Burnley-born Ahmed plans to move from his home in Skipton, Yorkshire to the Merseyside area.

That will bring him closer to his role model in the game, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

He said: “I would like to think of myself as a box to box player. Steven Gerrard is the type of player I want to be – so I have to make sure that my motor is running smoothly.”