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Vital Football Legend
Viv Solomon-Otabor says he is “100 per cent ready” to hit the ground running with parent club Birmingham City after his successful season-long loan at Blackpool.
Viv Solomon-Otabor says he is “100 per cent ready” to hit the ground running with parent club Birmingham City after his successful season-long loan at Blackpool. The 22-year-old first signed for the Seasiders last July, then extended his deal just before Christmas to run until the end of the season.
Solomon-Otabor, who made 47 appearances for Pool, says he is now fully focused on breaking into Birmingham’s first team.
“The fans there saw a brief spell of me when I was 19 and 20 but now I’m 100 per cent ready. “I can’t wait to get back and show everybody what I can do, and how much I’ve progressed as a player as well as a person. “There are different things in life I have learned. I went into Blackpool not as a boy but as someone who was willing to learn. “I achieved my goal, which was to go out there, play as many games as I could and have the manager trust me.”
The winger played a leading role, scoring five times to help the Seasiders clinch a 12th-placed finish in League One.
“It’s been a great season to be fair,” he added. “The fact the manager gave me the opportunity to play week in, week out and trusted me was great. “I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I’d just like to thank everyone there. “It was a different experience for me because I was starting most of the games. “Before, when I was 15 and 16, I was seen as an impact player who came off the bench. “So I had that actual responsibility to start from the beginning and to finish the match, and obviously people relied on me. “So, yes ,it was different but it was enjoyable at the same time because that’s what I love to do. “You feel that added pressure, but because it’s what you love to do that kind of just goes out of the window. “As a footballer, you just focus on the match and do what you’ve got to do. “Going into Blackpool and playing every game, I knew what I had to do. I just wanted to be the best I could be and thankfully it paid off.”
Viv Solomon-Otabor says he is “100 per cent ready” to hit the ground running with parent club Birmingham City after his successful season-long loan at Blackpool. The 22-year-old first signed for the Seasiders last July, then extended his deal just before Christmas to run until the end of the season.
Solomon-Otabor, who made 47 appearances for Pool, says he is now fully focused on breaking into Birmingham’s first team.
“The fans there saw a brief spell of me when I was 19 and 20 but now I’m 100 per cent ready. “I can’t wait to get back and show everybody what I can do, and how much I’ve progressed as a player as well as a person. “There are different things in life I have learned. I went into Blackpool not as a boy but as someone who was willing to learn. “I achieved my goal, which was to go out there, play as many games as I could and have the manager trust me.”
The winger played a leading role, scoring five times to help the Seasiders clinch a 12th-placed finish in League One.
“It’s been a great season to be fair,” he added. “The fact the manager gave me the opportunity to play week in, week out and trusted me was great. “I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I’d just like to thank everyone there. “It was a different experience for me because I was starting most of the games. “Before, when I was 15 and 16, I was seen as an impact player who came off the bench. “So I had that actual responsibility to start from the beginning and to finish the match, and obviously people relied on me. “So, yes ,it was different but it was enjoyable at the same time because that’s what I love to do. “You feel that added pressure, but because it’s what you love to do that kind of just goes out of the window. “As a footballer, you just focus on the match and do what you’ve got to do. “Going into Blackpool and playing every game, I knew what I had to do. I just wanted to be the best I could be and thankfully it paid off.”
