Junior: The fans can help define our season
It's been a long wait for City's next Premier League game following our 2-0 win over West Ham back on 9th March.
However, Junior Hoilett has certainly had a productive time over the break, as he jetted off to Vancouver and scored the opener in Canada's important 4-1 victory over French Guiana last Sunday.
His goal - featuring an ingenious throw-in routine - set them on their way to their fifth win on the spin, as they qualified for the 2019 Gold Cup and Group A of the 2019/20 CONCACAF Nations League in the process.
In the build-up to our Premier League clash with Chelsea, The Bluebird caught up with Junior, in an interview which you read in full in Sunday's matchday programme.
"It was a very good win for us," said Junior. "I really enjoyed it and I think we deserved it too, with the way that we have been playing lately. Now, I’m just excited to see who we get drawn against in the coming weeks!
"It's an exciting time. There’s a lot of young talent who are playing at a high level now – and in Europe as well as the MLS. It’s great for Canadian soccer as a whole. Canada’s getting their first professional soccer league too, which starts in May, and should provide a lot more avenues for young kids to break through and play on a high stage."
And as for his cheeky throw-in routine...
WATCH: Junior to Atiba to Junior..... Canada are up 1-0.
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) March 24, 2019
?? 1-0 ?? #CNL #CANMNT #OnGuardTogether pic.twitter.com/20NIqbS8P8
"The manager was talking about in training and said I should do it in the game, so I said: ‘alright!’.
"It actually came about early on in the match, it worked out well and I scored from it, which made it even better. It was great to execute it well and get the goal as a result!"
The City winger went on to preview Sunday's 2:05pm kick-off against Maurizio Sarri's men, as the Bluebirds make a welcome return to Premier League action.
"It’s actually been a bit frustrating to be away for so long," he added. "Especially coming off a win just before the break. The team’s momentum was high so I just can’t wait to get back out there with the boys, get playing again and hopefully get some good results under our belts.
"Especially as we’re the home team, we have to try and be on the front foot. The fans will be the 12th man and give us that extra boost in the remaining games... Now they can help to define our season.
"I always think that we can be positive here at home. We’re confident when we’ve got our fans behind us and, no matter who we are playing, we back ourselves to pick up results."
Read more of our interview with Junior Hoilett exclusively in Sunday's edition of The Bluebird.
