Alfie Pond has spoken ahead of Monday’s Premier League 2 Black Country derby and says he is expecting a tough test.
Wolves under-21s host West Brom at the New Bucks Head and defender Pond believes he is fully aware of the importance of the game. The 20-year-old returned to Compton Park at the turn of the year after spending the first half of the season with Stockport County and Pond has spoken on his first loan away from Wolves, what he expects from the West Brom game and how the team will approach the derby.
On his Stockport loan and being back at Wolves
“It was a good experience and my first loan, so it was a new experience for me. It probably didn’t quite go how I wanted it to in terms of minutes, but I definitely learnt a lot off the lads who were there.
“I’m really happy to be back at Wolves and playing with the under-21s. I know all the lads so I’m already settled, so it was just about fitting back in and getting on with the job.”
On Man City last week
“To be leading Man City 3-1 is always a good thing. We’d like to do better with seeing out the game and the last 10 minutes, we were disappointed with that.
“As a whole, we can definitely take positives from that game.”
On looking ahead to the Black Country derby
“I watched the first-team derby a few weeks ago and speaking to a few of the lads who are homegrown talents, they know the importance of it and I think I do now.
“It will be a tough game and we’ve all got to be at it. It’ll be competitive. I’ve played in derbies before – the Devon derby which is Exeter v Plymouth.
“I know what derbies are about. We’re going to approach it right and hopefully take the three points.”
On the approach to the game and support
“We play for three points every week so we approach each game the same and this one will be no different.
“We’ve got Crystal Palace in the next round (of the International Cup) but we’re just going to take each game at a time and focus on the next one, which is West Brom. That will be where our full focus is at the moment.
“It’s good to get as much support as we can. I think it will help the lads and hopefully build the game up in the right way.”
