Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale says the current season has already been a campaign to remember.
The 25-year-old expects the Whites to secure a top 10 finish with six games of the 2010/11 season remaining and cap a positive period of progression, which has seen the stopper impress in the absence of number one Mark Schwarzer.
“It’s been a solid season, and after a mixed first half of the year we have gone from strength-to-strength,” said Stockdale to fulhamfc.com. “When a new manager comes in there is always a phase of adjustment, but I think we have done well.
“For me personally, it has been one to remember as I’ve managed to get a number of games under my belt which was important. I had a little taste last season, and this term I’ve been given the opportunity to show what I can do further.
“I think I did well whenever called upon and it’s nice to hear people saying that they think I could be a future Fulham number one – because obviously that is my goal.”
One defeat and five clean sheets from the 10 games that he has been part of this term has done much for Stockdale’s growing reputation as one of England’s brightest young goalkeepers. His international call-up in February may have come as a surprise to those outside of Craven Cottage, but those on the inside point to its merit.
“It was a proud moment for me, and something that I had dreamed about as a kid,” he explained. “It was a moment that I and my family will never forget. I hope those at the Club were proud too, because I was honoured to be a Fulham player in an England squad.
“The Club took a bit of a gamble on me when they brought me in and I like to think I have repaid a bit of that faith by being called up and doing well in the First Team. Both of which have only strengthened my desire to play at the highest level.”
With the return and subsequent form of Mark Schwarzer, following the Aussie stopper’s involvement in the Asian Cup, Stockdale has found game time limited of late. His frustrations in returning to the dugout can be forgiven, although he insists comments made on his Twitter page this week were naive on his part.
“It has been difficult stepping back,” admits Stockdale. “But that’s the life of a goalkeeper - at times it is a bit of a waiting game. Every player wants to play, and I’m no different.
“I’ve been in the press this week as a result of something I said on Twitter, but it was taken out of context. I was naive, and should have been more aware because quite a lot of players have got in to trouble from statements of their own this season.
“I said that in seeing Mark Schwarzer do so well that next year I might have to evaluate my situation. I can see why people thought I was suggesting that I wanted to leave, but that’s really not what I meant because I’m very, very happy here.
“I’ve spoken to the Club and they know that I want to be a Fulham player for a long time to come. I like communicating with the Fulham fans on Twitter, but I’ll have to be a bit wiser. I didn’t want to cause any trouble, and it’s all quite unfortunate, but again, I have no desire to leave!”
With the FA Cup Semi-Finals being played out this weekend, the Whites are without a fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers the opponents in eight days time. Stockdale says the rest from action will do the squad a lot of good as the final run in approaches, but having been knocked out of the competition by Bolton, who face Stoke at Wembley on Sunday, he cannot help but think of what could have been.
“It’s nice to have a bit of time off, we’ll go away, relax and see family,” he explained. “But if you ask any of the boys where they would rather be – they would all say Wembley. We had ambitions of doing well in the Cup, but we didn’t play well enough against Bolton on what was a disappointing day for us.
“They went on to beat Birmingham, and as a result they have an FA Cup Semi-Final to look forward to. You can’t help but think that could have been us, it’s a natural thought.
“But that’s done, now we just have to concentrate on the league and the remainder of our matches. We face Wolves next, in what promises to be an important run of fixtures, with Bolton and Sunderland following very quickly.
“They are games we have to be looking at getting something from, and there’s no reason why we can’t. We want to finish in the top 10 and with the squad of players that we have that is certainly achievable.”