Ben Worman is the sorcerer’s apprentice to former Norwich City star Wes Hoolahan at Cambridge United
Ben Worman is like the sorcerer’s apprentice at Cambridge United.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has been a regular fixture in the first-team squad this season, and in midweek cup matches in particular has been ably stepping in for Wes Hoolahan.
Worman has started in all of the EFL Cup and EFL Trophy matches, and featured in the FA Cup, first round replay win over Northampton Town on Tuesday, scoring the third and final goal.
It added to the unbelievable effort in the League One win at Morecambe earlier this month, which became a huge hit across social media.
Worman may have been replacing Hoolahan during midweek matches, but he has also been learning a huge amount from the former Norwich City and Republic of Ireland ace.
“Obviously, Wes is a great player and the player I relate my game to really,” said Worman.
“I’m not the tallest either, and a small technical player that can get on the ball and make things happen.
“If I can fit into that role whenever he’s away then I will take that but I like to be adaptable as well. I like to think I can play in a few different positions across midfield.
“He has been here for a couple of seasons now, and you see him every day in training and he does some really nice stuff.
“I just want to keep adding to my game where I can, and keep looking at the way he plays in games and trying to replicate the things he does in certain situations so I can add things like that to my game.
“He is obviously a great person to learn off because he’s been at the top level.
“Anything about his career, whenever we’re having a chat, anything I want to know I can ask him because he is a humble guy.
“He will give you advice and he is there to help us and give us his experience as well.
“Anything I want to know, I will ask. It’s always good to ask Wes because he is the man really. He has been at that level, and has all that knowledge.”
Worman’s style is akin to Hoolahan.
They both drop off the play to find the pockets of space in order to try to have the biggest impact on games.
“I feel like my knowledge of the game is fairly good as well,” said Worman, when asked if he goes to Hoolahan for technical advice.
“I like finding out different things for myself and watching games back to try to improve that way through my own knowledge.
“And, obviously, when you’ve got someone like Wes, you can watch him in league games to see what he does and see how he adapts to different situations and gets out of tight areas.
“I think he is obviously a great person to learn from, and that’s a big thing for myself having someone like him around the training ground.”
Worman has had to be patient for a chance to impress with the first team, having made his debut as a 16-year-old, and is now seizing the opportunity with both hands.
The unbelievable volley against Morecambe garnered plenty of attention, but he was just as happy to add to the tally with another well taken strike from the edge of the area against Northampton.
“It was in my mind to follow it up and not just be remembered for that goal at Morecambe, so I was delighted with that,” he said.
“I definitely wanted to follow it up so I’m glad I got a goal on Tuesday night.”
It was created by Joe Ironside, who laid off a pass to Worman in space at the edge of the area, and the boyhood U’s fan made no mistake with the finish.
“Joey is the perfect striker to have, especially as a No 10 - a midfielder running off and in behind which I like to do,” said Worman.
“Joey is going to cause a problem for defenders, and on Tuesday the ball dropped in a nice area and he put it on a plate.
“He has the ability to find a pass once he has controlled the ball. You just know he is going to cause a problem so it’s easy for a midfielder to keep on running off defenders because you know eventually you’re going to get the right pass, which he obviously gave me on a Tuesday.
“He causes so many problems. He takes two if not three players out of the game at times, and Sam (Smith) and Knibbsy (Harvey Knibbs) give us a direct look to our team.
“Upfront, the three of them were just causing so many problems and pushing them back.”
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