New contract gives Leon Davies confidence to strive on for first-team spot at Cambridge United

Leon Davies will use a new contract at Cambridge United as a confidence boost to push on to try to break into the first team.

The 19-year-old right-back has signed a two-year deal to keep him at the U’s until the end of the 2020/21 season.

“It feels really good,” said Davies. “It was tough seeing a few of the lads I’ve played with since I was eight years old getting released.

“It makes you realise how much the club maybe think of me by offering me a two-year deal.

“It’s a good confidence boost that you are wanted at the club even though you may not have played as much as you want to in the past two years.

“It gives you the confidence to strive on and push yourself for the season coming.”

Davies is looking forward to the challenges of the next couple of years, which will include battling it out for the right-back berth with Kyle Knoyle, who joined from Swindon Town last week.

“I used to do a lot of goal-setting but I think it distracts me a bit too much and I focus too hard on something,” said Davies.

“I’m going to do something a bit different in the two years coming, put everything into my training, gym, diet – even more than I have been – and just really try to start the season to try to get the No 1 spot at right-back.

“There will be some friendly competition amongst us players and there is a new signing coming in - it’s something to look forward to, it really is. I can’t wait to get started.”

Davies has been in and around the first team for the past three years, making a total of 24 appearances and having a spell on loan at Bath City, but it is easy to forget that he is still very young.

“I made my debut when I was 16 and from then on I’ve felt a lot older because I’ve been around it since that age - almost like a veteran, but I’m only 19,” he said.

“I’ve played however many games I’ve played but it always feels like it should be more when, realistically if you look around the country at different clubs, people that age might not have played at all. Some people don’t breakthrough until they are about 21.

“I’ve just got to remember that I’m still young and there is still a lot more development to come. Last season was a big learning curve, as was the season before that, and every season will be.”

Davies is relishing the prospect of working closely from the off in pre-season with head coach Colin Calderwood, and learning some of the defensive traits that took him to the top of the game.

“He was an aggressive player and that is something that I need to bring into my game,” he said.

“Right from the very off I will be able to find out the main things he wants from a right-back and then implement them into my game as quickly as possible.”

But Davies admits that he may also need to continue to bide his time for a chance to impress.

“Patience has always been a real struggle of mine, and it is for a lot of people, especially young players,” he added.

“You’re hungry and you want to play, but it’s one of those things where you’re just not ready yet. You have to digest everything that goes on around you in training and matches and, when it comes, take the opportunity.”