Alim Ozturk has had to be professional and wait his chance since the signing Bailey Wright in the January window. Many thought that Alim was unfairly dropped, but at the same time Wright has been excellent since his arrival. However, now that the Aussie is injured Ozturk will start v Bristol, Rover on Saturday.
“The manager spoke to me when Bailey came in. He has his opinion; I have my opinion and that’s what it is, so I don’t want to spend too much time on that. It happened, I wasn’t happy with it but it’s the choice of the gaffer and you have to respect that and I did. I worked hard every training session and I waited for my chance. I didn’t play for three weeks but I will be ready as always. That’s always been what I’ve done since I’ve been here. I feel sorry for Wright. That’s not the way you want to come back into the team, if you come back into the team. It’s not nice for him and I don’t know exactly how bad it is.”
Ozturk also believes that we are now well positioned for promotion. “That’s what we wanted at the start of the season. We were a bit off it, but we are back in the game now, the last month every game will be like a final so we will see game by game. It starts on Saturday with Bristol Rovers so hopefully we can finish in the top two and be done earlier.”
In other news, Kyle Lafferty is desperate to make more of a positive in the final 13 games. He said: "I want to score as many goals as I can to help the team progress and get promoted. My goal is to take this club to the Championship. I am here for four months but I am hoping that if I can help the club get up then I can be here for a lot longer, but I know that is down to me and my performances. I don't set myself goals or targets, I do though focus on my overall play and I believe that if I play well the goals will come. It's a brilliant club," he said. "The lads have welcomed me from day one and I have fitted in right away. Everyone is brilliant here, the coaching staff and the people who work here have been fantastic. It's clear to see just how big the club is, and it offers me such motivation to help the club get to where it needs to be. I have come here desperate to make a positive impression. It's probably one of the best stadiums I have ever played at, it holds 49,000 and for the size of this club it is unfathomable to see where we are in English football - it doesn't make sense. I have played in front of passionate supporters before and I think my experiences at Rangers have helped me greatly coming here because I know how to play with expectation. When you go away from home to MK Dons and bring that many fans it makes you realise what a special club this is. At Portsmouth, it really opened my eyes because it was such a long journey and I expected to see a few hundred, but we actually had a full end, and it really helps us as a team. It is incredible to have that support home and away."
