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"Massive" Pre-Season Ahead For Sterry
Written by Newcastle Utd
Jamie Sterry believes the coming pre-season will be "massive" for him as he bids to establish himself in the first team
By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Young defender Jamie Sterry believes the coming pre-season will be "massive" for him as he bids to establish himself in Newcastle United's first team.
The 20-year-old made his debut for the Magpies as a second half substitute in the 5-1 final day victory over Tottenham Hotspur at St. James' Park last season.
The full back has already been with the Club for over a decade, progressing through the ranks to senior level.
And now, after getting a taste for first team football during that bittersweet victory over Spurs, Sterry - who could travel to Ireland with Rafa Benitez's squad for a week-long training camp in July - wants to kick on and make sure he's a regular feature on the teamsheet during the coming campaign.
"It's a massive pre-season. I said the same last year, but unfortunately I didn't travel with the first team and in my second game I picked up a thigh strain," he told nufc.co.uk.
"Last year I worked really hard to try and be fit, but I didn't do enough strength work. This year my programme will be a lot of strength work, and hopefully I'll come back the best I've ever been.
"I can't wait to hopefully get a few games and push on and see if I can get play some games in the Championship."
For United, it's largely been a season to forget on the field, and for Sterry, the pride at making his Premier League bow only came after some months of frustration.
"I've really enjoyed it, but I've had a few injuries. It was the same as last year - I was around the same place, but I just feel like I'm getting better, improving and confidence is growing," he explained.
"I've had quite a few (hip flexor strains) but now I'm doing a lot of strength work, and hopefully that'll help prevent these injuries.
"You have to do a lot more, especially if you don't play. You lose a little bit of fitness, so I just try and do a little bit extra.
"I couldn't explain how frustrating it's been. You just have to keep going and think it's going to come. Everything happens for a reason, I think, but I don't know why it kept happening."
Sterry added: "It's been good experience being with the top players, even though it hasn't been the best season for the club and the team.
"I've been learning a lot more tactically with the manager, and it helps a lot. It's been really good.
"I'm just learning a lot still, progressing from the under-21s to being in and around the first team, and being with one of the top managers in the world is going to help everyone."
Being a local lad, the feeling of running out in black and white at St. James' Park is a huge incentive for Sterry.
And he's hopeful that over the course of the coming campaign, he'll have plenty of opportunities to do just that.
"It means everything. I've been here since I was under-9s. I think it was about half-way through the under-9s that I got into the Academy, so I've been here quite a while. My family are all Geordies," said Sterry.
"I go home and I get asked millions of questions every day - the same questions! But they're just proud of me, and hopefully I'll play.
"The massive target is to push and try and get a few games. Next year I want to be fit, and I want to play quite a few games if I can get the chance."