Yahoo News Charlie Adam reveals biggest challenge as he prepares to go head-to-head with old pal Ryan Shawcross
Charlie Adam will go head-to-head with old team-mate Ryan Shawcross this evening (7.30pm kick-off) when Stoke City and Fleetwood Town clash in the Carabao Cup - and it is a challenge he is relishing.
Shawcross, who played with Adam during the Potters’ Premier League days, is in the dugout at the bet365 Stadium tonight following the sacking of Steven Schumacher as head coach on Monday.
And looking ahead to the game, Adam lamented the dismissal of someone he knew in Schumacher, but is also keen to test himself against a Championship club.
He told the Fleetwood Town website: “Stoke is a very special football club with some great people. I had seven amazing years there and it’s something I look back on with fond memories.
“We know we are going to come up against good players who can hurt you on any day. Stoke are a Championship side and for us, that’s the challenge to go there and express ourselves and show what we are capable of.
“I know people will make the game about my return, but for me it’s about what my team can do on the day and I just want us to go there and show that we are a good side.”
As for Schumacher’s sacking, just five games into the new season, Adam added: “Whenever a manager loses his job it’s tough, especially when it’s someone you know because I do speak to Steven Schumacher often.
“This summer we were on the phone talking about League Two, which is a league he won with Plymouth Argyle, and I shared texts now and then to ask how things were going and how he was getting on.
“It’s a tough time losing your job, but for me coming up against Ryan Shawcross, I am looking forward to that on the touchline. He was always a leader and was the captain when I was there.
“It’s always good to go back to a club you have an affinity with, but I know I won’t be any different in what I want - my team to go there and show what we are about. It will be a great game and one where I know we can cause them problems.”
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Fleetwood are 12th in League Two after five games of the new season with two wins, two draws and a solitary defeat to their name. Adam arrived at Highbury in December for his first stint as a manager, and although unable to keep them in League One, he is holding his own in the lower tier.
He added: “I don’t think we’ve seen this team at full capacity yet. I think we are growing and you can see us getting better with each week. We have a lot to improve on, but I know we have the foundations there to progress.
“We are still working with those summer arrivals and with a lot of games coming up in such a short space of time, it will give the staff a great challenge, but also the players who will have their time on the pitch to impress.
“It’s important we do well in cup competitions and go as far as we can. We want to win every game and it gives players the chance to play at an amazing stadium, with a big pitch and showcase themselves.”
His team will turn up at the bet365 Stadium on the back of a 3-2 League Two win at Carlisle United on Saturday, when Danny Mayor, ironically a good friend of Schumacher, scored twice.
