Callum O’Hare is “buzzing” for the start of the new Sky Bet Championship season after scoring in the Sky Blues 3-2 friendly win against Milton Keynes Dons yesterday.
The midfielder scored a fine goal from the edge of the penalty area to help City secure their first win of pre-season, after fixtures against Rangers, Swindon Town and Wolves U23’s.
Signing on a permanent deal from Aston Villa this summer, having spent last season on loan at the Sky Blues, O’Hare was pleased to get a longer a run out at Stadium MK and boost his confidence after scoring his first goal of pre-season.
O’Hare said: “It was good to get a bit of a longer run out, against a team that pass it around, and it was good to get a goal to boost my confidence.
“It’s much easier and more enjoyable, with the amount of space in behind, when there’s space to run in and you get time and space on the ball, it was nice to find that space and create some chances.
“I knew I was going to get another chance, I thought I had to take this one after I’d hit the post and missed a one-on-one, but when I got another chance, I just thought I had to hit it low, and it went in luckily.”
The 22-year-old combined well with Jamie Allen on Saturday afternoon and believes that City now have an insight into how the Dons might play when the two sides meet in the Carabao Cup at the beginning of next month.
“Me and Jamie know each other, we know how each other play, it’s really nice to play with him, we know each other’s game, if one comes short one goes in behind and the press is decent as well, Jamie’s a really good player.
“They tried to pass the ball a bit more so it was a different sort of game, I thought we did well in parts and we need to sharpen up in some areas as well, but it’s pre-season for a reason and that’s what we’re here to do.
“We were able to see the style they play and who they like to play through so it gave us a good insight ahead of playing them next month.”
O’Hare insists that he and his teammates are working hard ahead of the new season and is buzzing to get started with City set to embark on their first Championship campaign in eight seasons.
“I was here last year, but I didn’t get a pre-season, we’re just working hard for that first game of the season, it’s been really good so far, I’m buzzing and I can’t wait to get going now.
“It is a bit weird, usually we’d come in and see the fans, they’d be screaming from the stands, but when you’re here and it’s a bit dead we have to boost ourselves, that’s what we’re trying to do, and when we’re on the pitch we just try to play our game.”