Seika Jatta said he was feeling really good after scoring the winner against Ipswich Town as he continues his comeback from an ankle injury.
The 17-year-old has seen injury limit him to just three appearances for the Youth Team in the U18 Professional Development League Two South this season.
The tall striker admitted that, having spent so long out of the team, he wasn’t sure how quickly he would be able to get back up to speed on his return.
Speaking to Bees Player after Saturday’s 1-0 win over Ipswich Town Seika said the thought of getting out on the pitch was what drove him on throughout his time out injured.
“I am feeling really good,” said Seika.
“It is good to be back from injury.
“I have been injured since nearly the start of the season and I have only played a couple of games.
“It is very good to be back and I am very happy to be back.
“It has been a very frustrating time for me.
“I have been out with this ankle injury for nearly three months.
“Since I have come back from injury I think I have been doing well and my fitness is coming back up.
“The thought of getting back on the pitch made me work hard.
“I was thinking that I need to come back as soon as possible because people haven’t seen me play and I haven’t seen myself play in a long time.
“I didn’t know how my football would be.
“I think since I have come back I have played well in a couple of friendlies.”
Seika’s late goal was enough to secure the win that keeps Brentford top of the Under-18 Professional Development League Two South at the midway point of the season.
The Bees had taken a first-half lead through Bradley Clayton but when Shane McLoughlin levelled with 20 minutes to go it looked like Jon De Souza’s side would slip to a third home game without a win.
However with time almost up Seika grabbed his second goal of the season from a long Nik Tzanev clearance to secure all three points.
Seika thought it was an important win to keep his side top of the league and one which was well merited.
“We needed to win today to stay top of the league,” said Seika.
“If didn’t win today I think we could have gone down to second in the table.
“We deserved the win today.
“We had lots of chances and the keeper did very well.
“Kingsley Eshun, my strike partner, did well but you have to give credit to the keeper because he made some good saves today.
“The final 15 minutes today was end to end, they counter, we counter, and it was good.
“We had a free-kick in our own half and I just made a forward run.
“I called for the ball, Nik Tzanev saw me and I made a run in behind the defenders.
“I took a touch, went round the keeper and finished it.”
Seika’s return to fitness means that competition for the striking berths in the Youth Team is fiercer than ever.
With Seika, Bradley Clayton, Kingsley Eshun and Joshua Bohui all fighting for a starting spot Seika expects training to be very competitive this week.
Seika said he has to prove himself in every training session to show Youth Team manager Jon De Souza that he deserves to start.
“This season we have been playing really well,” said Seika.
“Every game we are trying to keep the ball and be calm on the ball.
“We are trying to keep the ball in teams final third or in their half.
“There is a big competition with four strikers.
“You have to fight for your position every day and in every training session.
“You have to try and score goals and be positive as well.
“When the manager sees that they love it and I am trying to secure a place in the team.
“I have to work my socks off in training to try and start the game.
“I need to score goals in training as well so that I can be in the manager’s head and start games.”
Bees Player subscribers can listen to the full interview here