 |
| Tom Pugh has returned to Scunthorpe after being recalled from his loan at Hereford |
The 23-year-old Doncaster-born midfielder admitted he scored two special strikes in his last two games for Hereford and his target for this season was to score more goals.
"Loved it, loved every minute of it," Pugh said in his first interview since returning to Scunthorpe United.
"The fans were class, the group of lads were class, the manager and assistant, all of them helped me out and believed in me.
"I've just put a good few performances on and it just got me a recall."
Pugh would've started on Tuesday had the game at Darlington not been called off 20 minutes before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch at Blackwell Meadows.
"I think any player just wants to play football," he added.
"I think that's obviously why we are footballers. We need to be out there on the pitch, playing. I think sat on the bench or not being in the squad can take a lot on you, kill your confidence. Sometimes going on loan can do wonders for you."
In his first month out on loan at Edgar Street, Pugh made seven appearances, scoring one goal and adding one assist. After the loan was extended, and a 24-hour recall added to the deal, he made another six appearances and earned plaudits from the fans for his performances.
Scunthorpe's manager Jimmy Dean said Pugh was exceptional at Edgar Street but he's desperate for a place at Scunthorpe, desperate for a new deal and desperate to help the club back up the leagues.
He says a loan deal was right though given that Pugh had had months without competitive football.
"I think everyone's seen the job he's done there, he's kickstarted their season," Dean added, saying he was delighted Pugh's back.
"Tom's always been part of the plans at this football club. I don't know whether he believed me because he had to go out on loan.
"He got sent off at the end of last season, he missed the last month of the season, a silly red card.
"Then he had the off-season off and then he got injured in pre-season so he had a big spell with no football.
"The lads on the pitch have obviously done well so it's difficult to bring him straight back in and throw him in. He came to me and pushed me for a place and I couldn't give him one at the time.
"So the next best thing was he said he'd go out on a loan. He's been well looked after by Paul [Caddis] in Hereford, he's enjoyed his spell there and he's had good help.
"Some really good performance, a couple of teams of the week in the National League North."
Scunthorpe are one of the favourites to win promotion from the National League North back to non-league's top flight after being relegated last season.
Despite off-the-field problems, the side are currently second in the league, nine points behind newly-promoted Tamworth.