Sammie Szmodics, the man of the moment, expects to be closely marked and deprived of space if he gets the nod to play at Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow afternoon.
Colchester United’s attacking midfielder, the subject of transfer speculation featuring a possible £1million bid from AFC Bournemouth last weekend, was crowned EFL League Two’s player-of-the-month for December this week.
Szmodics actually missed last Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Cheltenham Town, due to a niggling injury, but he is hoping to return to the starting line-up at Adams Park.
However, he is expecting another rough ride, as he attempts to add to his already impressive haul of 12 goals for the season.
“Teams have been man-marking me, and the game that sticks out is Wycombe at home earlier this season,” revealed Szmodics, with reference to the 2-1 home defeat last September.
“Marcus Bean – who used to play here at Colchester – I remember him following me around the whole 90 minutes.
“We have analysed that and if me and Beany are playing on Saturday, then we have a game-plan to counter that.
“Recently, before the Cambridge game, I spoke to (ex-Colchester manager) Joe Dunne. He was the one who gave me my first chance.
“He was in and around the training ground and I had a chat with him. Before leaving, he told me - ‘we’ve got a plan for you’ – so that’s proof that other clubs are trying to manipulate what I do.
“However, that can only make me a better player myself, because I’ve had to adapt aspects of my game to get around them trying to stop me.
“When you go into games and people know who you are, you can hear opposition players on the pitch say – ‘watch Szmodics!’ – people are talking about you,” added Szmodics.
U’s stalwart Szmodics, who is contracted until the end of next season, rates his 82nd minute strike at Wycombe last season, in a 2-0 away win, as the best of his 22 senior goals to date.
“Wycombe away last season was the best goal I’ve ever scored, I think,” confirmed Szmodics.
“I’ve scored many good goals but the one at Wycombe, given the circumstances, that was a big one for me.”
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