Only three years ago, Liam Dickinson was plying his trade in the lower reaches of non-league football but now he could be on the verge of a trip to Wembley for a second season running as he tries to help fire Leeds back into the Championship.
The 23-year-old, who scored a goal for
Stockport in last season’s League Two play-off final triumph, is currently on-loan at Elland Road from Derby after agreeing a switch until the end of the campaign. Dickinson has had limited playing time at Pride Park since his £750,000 move from Stockport in the summer but he enjoyed a successful loan spell at Blackpool earlier this season when current Leeds boss Simon Grayson was in charge at Bloomfield Road.
Givemefootball’s Mark Shail spoke exclusively to the big striker before tomorrow’s home game against Tranmere.
HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR TIME AT ELLAND ROAD?
I’m loving it to be honest. The fans have been great, they’re crazy. I’ve had a bit of a problem with a medial ligament injury, which took longer to heal than we expected, but now I am back fully fit and hoping to build on the three or four starts I’ve had so far.
HOW DID THE MOVE TO LEEDS COME ABOUT?
Simon Grayson took me to Blackpool on loan from Derby earlier in the season and things went pretty well, I managed to score a few goals. So he knows what I am all about and so when the chance came to work with him at a big club like
Leeds I jumped at the opportunity.
HOW HAS THE SEASON GONE FOR YOU IN GENERAL?
It’s been a bit of an up and down season, if I’m honest. Things didn’t work out straight away at Derby but I went on loan to
Huddersfield, did well there and scored a few goals. I then got the chance to play in the Championship with
Blackpool and did well again, and now I’ve come to a massive club like Leeds. To be honest, overall it has been a good year because I’ve been able to experience League One and Championship football. I definitely think I am a better player than I was 12 months ago.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AHEAD OF TOMORROW’S GAME AGAINST TRANMERE?
If we manage to win tomorrow then our play-off place would be pretty much secured and then we will try to end the season with a bit or momentum behind us. I made it to the play-off final at Wembley with Stockport last season and it was an amazing feeling – it would be great to go there again with Leeds.
YOU MUST HAVE TO PINCH YOURSELF SOMETIMES - HAVING COME SUCH A LONG WAY IN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME?
Definitely, three years ago I was playing for Woodley Sports in the Unibond League and now I’ve got the chance to help get one of the biggest clubs in England back into the Championship. I’m really enjoying myself here and it doesn’t get much better than walking out at Eland Road in front of 30,000 fans.
WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO THE LEEDS SUPPORTERS TO WIN PROMOTION?
It will mean so much because they have got so much passion for the club. It would mean the world to everyone – the fans, the players and the staff.
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