‘Stand Up To The Task’ – McAteer Takes Stock

- Leicester City face Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night
- The Brewers’ Pirelli Stadium will stage the first round contest (8pm kick-off)
- Midfielder Kasey McAteer previewed the game earlier this week
- He also looked back on Sunday’s league victory over Coventry City

Coming just three days after an opening day Sky Bet Championship triumph over Coventry City at King Power Stadium, Leicester turn attentions to round one of the Carabao Cup this week, which pits Enzo Maresca’s side against League 1 outfit Burton in an 8pm kick-off.

City will be heading into that contest in high spirits following Sunday’s comeback victory and catching up with McAteer back at LCFC Training Ground, the youngster reflected on a near-perfect day for the Foxes and looked ahead to visiting Pirelli Stadium for the meeting with the Brewers.

“Just to get the win in the first game of the season and get my first start in the league as well made it a great day,” the 21-year-old commented on the weekend’s Coventry success. “I thought the boys showed a lot of fight coming from 1-0 down.

“Like the gaffer says, they were literally a kick away from the Premier League last season. They’ve been together for quite a while now, whereas we’ve been together for six or seven weeks in pre-season with the new manager and the staff.

“From day one of pre-season it was a new system that Enzo and his staff brought in, so it’s been hard to get to grips with, but I feel like all the boys are starting to get up to speed with it now and every day we’re doing it we’re starting to learn very quickly.

“It’s being enforced into us now and becoming natural. I’m sure as time goes on, it will be built in more and more and then we’ll start to see more results come our way.

“Obviously, there were two great goals from Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall]. The crowd were up and to get two goals so late on in the game, it gave us a massive lift after the game. Overall, I’m just buzzing to get the first win.

“It was a very happy dressing room after the full-time whistle. We’re creating that winning environment and we need to keep building on that now. It definitely felt good to get that win. With it being a derby as well, it was a great feeling.”

The game was a significant one for McAteer in particular, marking his first league start for the Club. As an Academy graduate who has risen up through the ranks, it was a special moment to get the nod in front of the Blue Army and help the side to victory.

The Northampton-born midfielder explained: “I was obviously buzzing when the gaffer told me I was starting. You get that butterfly feeling. Being here for so long and him showing his faith in me to start the game was honestly a great feeling and one I’ll never forget.

“It’s brilliant. I’ve been here since the age of eight. I’ve loved every day I’ve been here and to be finally given the opportunity in the first team is what every kid dreams of really so I’m just grateful for everyone who has helped me to get to where I am now.

“Obviously there’s still a lot of hard work to be done but I can say that I’ve worked hard and I’m getting my rewards now so it’s always good to see that.

“Today the legs are feeling a bit sore, if I’m honest. We’re getting our recovery in now and obviously looking forward to the game on Wednesday away at Burton. It’s just about being as fresh as I can.

“The boys are full of confidence now, I think, coming off the back of that win, the first win in the league. We’re all looking forward to it and we’ll get back on the training pitch now and then see how we get on, on Wednesday.”

The winger came up against the Staffordshire side last term, playing in the Leicester City Development Squad’s EFL Trophy clash with Burton before his loan spell at AFC Wimbledon. The Foxes are favourites heading into this fixture, but that will count for nothing if they do not apply themselves in the correct manner, McAteer warns.

“It’s not the biggest of grounds so the crowd do get behind the team a lot,” he revealed. “We’ll be expecting a tough game, like every game will be this season. We just need to go there and show what we’re about and trust what we’re doing behind the scenes on the training pitch and hopefully it comes good.

“That’s what has been said around pre-season, every team is going to want to give that bit more to beat us. Obviously, we’ve just been relegated from the Premier League and the history of the Club speaks for itself, so I think we’ve just got to stand up to the task, do what we do and hopefully we get the wins that we need.”

All times BST.