Rory MacLeod is having fun with life on the English south coast after shifting from Dundee United to Premier League outfit Southampton in the summertime.
The teenage ahead is a part of the Scotland U19s squad for a triple header of Euro qualifiers towards Wales, Lichtenstein, and France over the subsequent week.
MacLeod, who made 28 senior appearances for Dundee United earlier than heading south on summer season switch deadline day, can be trying to make a optimistic impression on new Head Coach Neil MacFarlane and construct on his solitary U19s cap.
Earlier within the week, the teenager spoke to YFS and different members of the media in a press convention on the Scotland camp.
Right here’s what he needed to say.
How are you discovering life at Southampton to date?
“It’s been actually good. It’s a giant change of surroundings for me as I’d been at Dundee United since I used to be six. However I’m having fun with it.
“It’s actually good. It’s an excellent commonplace there, I’d say it’s been a step up for me. It’s one thing totally different as a result of I’d simply been used to Scottish soccer.”
Have you ever been coaching with the primary workforce in any respect?
“I’ve skilled a few times with the primary workforce. I’ve simply had little snippets once they’ve wanted boys in. They’ve received fairly a giant squad.
“However even coaching with the U21s is an excellent commonplace.”
Discuss us by means of the transfer itself, Rory. Was it a straightforward resolution to make?
“It wasn’t a straightforward resolution for me to maneuver away after rising up as a United fan.
“It’s clearly not the best factor to do shifting away from dwelling as properly, as a result of I’m Dundee-based.
“However I felt prefer it was the fitting transfer for me as I wanted to play extra minutes.
“I believe shifting down there was an excellent transfer for me, so I used to be glad to get the deal achieved on deadline day.”
What’s the scenario? It’s a mortgage with an choice to purchase, is that proper?
“It’s a mortgage with two choices to purchase, one in January and one in summer season.
“So, I simply have to preserve doing what I’m doing after which hopefully get the transfer made everlasting.”
Is there any indication that’s going to occur?
“There’s no indication of that as of but. There’s not been any talks about it but, however hopefully, by January we’ll have a call.”
How are you discovering the side of shifting away from dwelling? It’s fairly distant from Dundee, Southampton, isn’t it?
“Southampton just isn’t precisely the closest place I might have gone!
“However it’s been superb. It’s an hour on the airplane, so it’s not too dangerous. I’ve nonetheless come again quite a bit as a result of you already know what mums are like!
There are a couple of Scottish boys down there, are they serving to you agree in?
“I’ve not truly had a full dialog with the different Scottish boys down there. However if you happen to’re strolling previous first-team gamers, they’re all the time asking the way you’re getting on. You get despatched messages as properly.
“My coach Simon Rusk is Scottish. He’s received a Scottish household and he’s a very nice man, the gaffer. It’s an excellent place to be on the minute.”
Who’re the blokes you base your recreation on?
“I got here by means of at United as a striker after which extra drifted into the quantity 10 position. I all the time grew up watching Ronaldo after which I additionally favored watching Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at Liverpool.
“I do know Stuart Armstrong performed that 10 position at Southampton as properly. It’s hopefully the plan to observe in his footsteps.
“I simply have to preserve working exhausting and knuckling down and present them what I can do.”
Has the transfer been what you anticipated it was going to be like?
“Properly, every part comes as a shock in soccer. I knew I used to be going into an excellent commonplace, and I knew the boys I used to be entering into to play with can be excellent technical gamers.
“However yeah, I really feel like I’ve settled in properly with them and it’s been excellent since I’ve been right here. I can’t complain.”
Is there a pathway [at Southampton]?
“There’s undoubtedly a pathway. You may inform as a result of they’ve introduced by means of a great deal of gamers prior to now. So, it’s simply as much as me now to show what I can do and hopefully, that pathway I can come by means of.
“I’ve received all of the coaches to talk to and all of the workers, there’s tons of of individuals you may converse to.
“It’s only a actually good place for me to be at this cut-off date. I’m engaged on issues I have to work on.”
What about this week, are you trying ahead to that?
“In fact. I used to be out of the squad for a 12 months. I wasn’t enjoying an terrible lot of soccer during the last 12 months which was why my transfer was mandatory.
“I really feel like I’m in an excellent place now fitness-wise. I’m enjoying properly, I’ve scored a couple of targets within the final month.
“I really feel like I’m in an excellent place to go and play these subsequent three video games and present everybody what I can do.”
Powerful video games developing towards Wales and France specifically, isn’t it?
“Yeah, powerful video games. We’ve performed towards them each earlier than. I really feel like we’ve received the boys within the squad to go and prime this group and present everybody what we’re about.”
Scotland U19s kick off their Euro 2025 qualifying marketing campaign towards Wales this Wednesday in Stirling. They then face Lichtenstein at Cappielow on Saturday earlier than dealing with the would possibly of France subsequent Tuesday. Supporters can attend all video games free of charge.
