Toon Midfielder Puts The Past (Liverpool & Man Utd) Behind Him!

Danny Guthrie: "I have not exactly been known for my goalscoring in the past so I am delighted.

"Last season being in the Bolton side it wasn't that easy, bearing in mind I hardly got any chances. I am playing with a different class of player this year and they find you when you make runs into the box.

"It is part of my game I am trying to improve because a goalscoring midfielder is invaluable. I want to be a box-to-box player.

"The best midfielders, like (Frank) Lampard and (Steven) Gerrard always get 10-15 goals a season. They set the standards and I want to be up there with those sorts of players.

"It is always fantastic to hear when you are being compared to great players of the past but you want compliments from current players as well.

"It was a nice confidence boost but I have got to keep my feet on the ground.

"The manager is great. We have had a tough pre-season and have started to wind down now. He enjoys a great banter with the players. He is not a manager who doesn't talk to his players, he is very hands-on. You listen because of what he has done in the game.

"It was great to come away from one big club to another and to feel wanted.

"Hopefully I can improve here and become a much better player. It was sad to leave Liverpool but I had to be realistic. I played seven games and could have maybe got ten to 15 games a season, but I need 40 a year at this stage of my career. To make the step up I need to play.

"I need to prove them wrong. I won't be the first or last player to leave a big club for another and it is how you react that matters.

"I was at Manchester United as a kid even though I signed a scholarship with Liverpool at 16.

"I went to Man Utd in the summer holidays when I was growing up. I never signed for them but I was there from 11 to 15.

"Manchester United will always be a massive game for me. I wouldn't say it means anything different to me but at the same time it is always great if you can prove someone wrong.

"At 16 I met Steve Heighway and that was that, I signed for Liverpool.

"It never came to Man Utd offering me anything because I had already agreed to go to Liverpool. I spoke to Heighway and thought: 'That's good enough for me.'

"I was an England schoolboy and it was not a difficult decision to make."