| Darren’s not content just to Potter
around  By
Phil Campion
With Champions League experience under his belt at one of the biggest
clubs in Europe, Ireland’s Darren Potter decided during the summer
that he needed to leave Liverpool if he was ever to break into the international
set up.
Potter signed for Mick McCarthy’s Wolves in August on a season-long
loan and now has set his sights on regular first team football for both
club and country.
Former Irish manager Brian Kerr encouraged the young Liverpudlian and
Ireland under-21 international to play for the country through the grand
parent rule.
Speaking about his Irish roots Darren explains: “Dad’s parents
are Irish. My nan’s from Co. Clare and my grandad’s from Dublin.
“The chance to wear the green jersey came along because Brian Kerr
was in charge and Frankie Mac at Liverpool was quite close to him and
obviously he knew about my family history and contacted Brian.”
It was a decision that the young midfielder says he never regrets as he
attempts to feature in Steve Staunton’s European Championship plans.
Potter says: “Everyone asks me why I play for Ireland but I wouldn’t
change it for the world.”
Potter was raised as an Evertonian but enjoyed learning from top Liverpool
players such as club captain Steve Gerrard. Unfortunately for supporters
of the Pool though Potter admits his future lies away from Merseyside.
He says: “I’ve got two years on my contract but as far as
my Liverpool future goes it’s very difficult. You look at the caliber
of the players that are there — it is never going to be easy for
someone like me to get in the starting line-up or even on the bench.
“As a kid you always think you will make it in the Liverpool first
team week in week out in a few years time but I’m 22 this year and
I’m looking at things realistically.”
Potter has kept his feet firmly on the ground and doesn’t get sucked
in by all the hype that goes with professional football.
He says: “I never put pressure on myself and I never let anyone
put pressure on me. I do what I want to do for myself and my family.”
The 21-year-old who ended last season on loan at Southampton takes the
move to Wolves in his stride.
“I’m coming here as a fresh start and I haven’t got
a point to prove to anyone.
“There are so many games to play in a season. I was at Southampton
just three months last season. That is more difficult because I only had
15 or 16 games to be judged on.
“There were clubs wanting to take me on loan this season but as
you know not too many Championship players have money to buy players which
was unfortunate because I wanted a permanent deal.”
Potter was impressed by the way former Ireland boss Mick McCarthy operates.
He said: “He watched me a few weeks ago playing for the academy
against Wrexham.
“There were quite a few scouts from other clubs but when you get
a manager coming up to see you on own his bat just to watch it speaks
volumes.
“After the game my agent said he wants to take you now so that was
it. As long as he says he wants me that’s good enough for me.”
Potter is hoping that new boss Mick McCarthy finds a place for him in
the centre of midfield.
He says: “As a kid I was always a central midfielder but because
of the players Liverpool had available Mr. Benitez always played me out
on the right which I didn’t enjoy but there again I used to come
home and realise I’d just played in the Liverpool first team.
“In all I played 19 games for the first team and I don’t think
I started any of them in the middle. I think they have all been on the
right and Mick knows that as well.”
If McCarthy can get the best out of Potter then perhaps it won’t
be too long before we see the scouser representing Ireland at senior level,
an achievement which would eclipse all those he’s had so far in
his career.
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