Earlier in the season Scott Brown was making a name for himself at Bristol City before an untimely hamstring injury led to the Liverpool-born winger losing his place in the starting line-up at Ashton Gate. Ironically, on the very same day that Brown picked up the injury against Doncaster in November, he also received the PFA League One Fans' Player of the Month Award. After recently recovering from that problem, Brown has found it tough to force his way back into Gary Johnson's in-form side and has since made the decision to join Cheltenham on-loan in an attempt to get some much-needed first team football under his belt. Givemefootball's Mark Shail spoke to Brown in the aftermath of Saturday's 1-1 draw against Gillingham.
Q:WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT DRAW AGAINST THE GILLS AT THE WEEKEND?
A:To be honest, it was a game we should have won. We certainly created enough chances to win it. I suppose we'll look back at is as two points dropped because they were down to ten men after Ian Cox was sent off for them in the first half.
Q:WHAT WAS YOUR REASON BEHIND SIGNING FOR CHELTENHAM?
A:Basically it was because I needed some first team games. Obviously I wasn't playing at City when I came back from injury and this has given me the opportunity to play every week and try to recapture the form that I was in earlier this season.
Q:IT MUST HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATING TO HAVE PICKED UP THAT INJURY AT CITY WHEN THINGS WERE GOING SO WELL FOR YOU?
A:It was a nightmare really because I had won a place in the side and things were going well on a personal level. But when I came back I couldn't get in the team and the manager told me I wasn't ensured a place in the squad. So, when Cheltenham enquired about me I thought it was in my interests to take the chance to play games – as we stand now it could be with a view to a permanent move, but we'll have to wait and see.
Q:WERE YOU DISAPPOINTED TO LEAVE CITY?
A:Of course, because they are such a big club, but at the end of the day the selection of the team is out of your hands and I felt I needed to be playing. The injury didn't help but now I need to look forward.
Q:HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING WORKING WITH JOHN WARD?
A:He's one of the nicest men I've met in the game and if I can learn from him while I'm here, and help Cheltenham on the way as well, it should be beneficial for both me and the club. Everybody here at Cheltenham has gone out of their way to make me feel welcome and that has helped me settle in very quickly.
Q:DO YOU THINK YOU WILL MAKE THE MOVE A PERMANENT ONE?
A:At this stage I really don't know but it gives me the chance to play matches, during which time they can have a look if they like me and vice versa. At this stage though I'm not looking too far ahead, it's just a case of me trying to get back to the levels of performance I was producing a few months ago.
