Danny Cadamarteri has sampled both highs and lows during his football career. He burst onto the scene with Everton and was touted as the next big thing. However, after spells with Sheffield United and Bradford City he had dropped into the conference before with Grays Athletic before Rob Kelly came to the rescue. The Leicester boss has handed 27-year-old Cadamarteri a chance to extend his Football League career and, as givemefootball's Ian Clarkson discovered, it is an opportunity he intends to grasp with both hands following his last gasp FA Cup equaliser against Fulham on Saturday.
Q:IT'S BEEN A TOPSY-TURVY FEW YEARS FOR YOU, DANNY, I WOULD THINK YOU ARE HAPPY TO BE AT THE WALKERS STADIUM?
A:I'm made up that I've signed here until the end of the season. I have tried to work hard and give the manager food for thought. I just want to do my best and get my football career back on track. I'm grateful to Rob and the football club for providing me with this fantastic opportunity to re-establish myself and hopefully I can repay them with some good performances.
Q:IS IT A CASE OF MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME?
A:I will be excited to pull on a shirt, get out onto the pitch and do my best for the club. It seems like I've been here, there and everywhere but I am still only 27 and I just want to get on with my career and put it back on track.
Q:ARE YOU FIT?
A:Yes. I missed out on pre-season and a lot of matches since then but I was fortunate to get a couple of matches under my belt for Grays before coming here. All I can do is work hard in training and give the manager something to think about. I have really worked hard to stay fit and I am thankful to Grays for giving me the opportunity to get a couple of games under my belt whilst training with Leicester. My fitness is relatively good - I just need matches now.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE LEICESTER SQUAD?
A:The lads have been doing fantastically well since I've been here training and they have picked up some great results. It's going to be hard to get into the team but my job is to put pressure on the lads who are in the side at present.
Q:WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PLAYING?
A:I'm just itching to play as much as I can. There is a lot of desire and built-up frustration inside me but hopefully Leicester are going to be the team who will benefit from this. It also works to my benefit that I can play in three different positions as well. Honestly, I don't mind.
Q:IT WENT WELL FOR YOU IN THE FA CUP AT THE WEEKEND?
A:Fulham played well in patches but we dominated the rest of the game. Levi Porter did well on the left, pulled the ball back and I just hit it with my left foot. I'm made up with the result and to get a goal was the icing on the cake. I ran over to my missus and my little boy in the stands to celebrate because they have been with me through all the ups and downs. I owe them a lot. Their second goal was a wonder strike and no goalkeeper in the world would have had a chance of stopping that. It was a hammer blow after working so hard to get back into the game, but we continued to work away and gained our just rewards. We thoroughly deserved the draw.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR AIMS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON?
A:Just to keep playing, maintain my fitness and hopefully help Leicester out as much as possible. I'm grateful that Rob Kelly has taken a chance on me and I really want to do something to repay that faith.
