Callum Elder is using every day, training session, and match as a chance to improve as he adjusts to life in the Sky Bet Championship with Brentford. The 21-year-old joined from Premier League Champions Leicester City last month on a season-long loan deal and has started all four league matches for Dean Smith’s side so far this campaign. Callum admits that it has been a big jump up, especially as he missed so much of last season due to injury, but added that he is really enjoying his time at Griffin Park.
“It has been great so far,” said Callum, speaking to Bees Player ahead of Saturday’s match with Sheffield Wednesday. “You could say that we have had a mixed start to the season with two wins and two losses but I am really enjoying my time here. I have settled in well with the lads. They are a great bunch. I am really enjoying training and learning off them and the staff each day. It has been a big step for me but it is also my first competitive football for about seven months after my injury in December. To step up from your rehab in the summer into Sky Bet Championship football is quite big but I am taking everything in my stride. I am quite young and I am thriving off playing in the Championship. It is a great step for me and every week is another chance to improve my game.”
Callum has spent time on loan at Mansfield Town and Peterborough United in Leagues Two and One previously before stepping up to the Championship this campaign. When he joined, The Sydney-born defender said he was drawn by The Bees attacking style of play and that has only been re-enforced now that he has spent time working under Dean Smith.
“The style of play is definitely one thing that attracted me to the club,” said Callum. “They are a really aggressive and positive side who look to break quickly using the full-backs to an attacking extent. That is something that I definitely want to bring to the team. The level of play is a lot more physical and faster and that is something that I feel I will grow into each week. I really enjoy the style of play that the gaffer is trying to bring in. Every week is another chance to play with the back four and to train and learn off each other and that is massive. To be on the same wavelength is something that we are all growing into as a team, and not just individually.”
Next up for Callum and The Bees are last season’s beaten Play-Off finalists Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park on Saturday. The Owls come into the game with just four points from their opening four matches but Callum sees quality right throughout The Owls line-up.
“We watched a bit of them this morning and they are a quality team,” said Callum. “They have got individuals with a lot of talent and players with Premier League experience. Collectively they look like an organised unit so we need to make sure that we concentrate on Saturday. The gaffer mentioned this morning that if we can bring our game to them then that’s the most important thing. If we do that then that’s the most important thing and we will stand a right chance on Saturday. You want to be tested at the top every week. They will bring a lot of quality with them but what better way to respond than to show our quality to them. Our home form has been good, starting off with two wins. It is something that we are looking to build on to really make Griffin Park a fortress.”