As the new season edges closer, we caught up with winger Sylvester Jasper to talk about preparations and season aims.
How has pre-season gone for you?
I feel like it’s been really good. I’ve been with the First Team throughout, played a few 90 minutes with them and have performed well in my opinion, so yeah I’m happy with how it’s gone. I’m just excited to see how it's going to go this season.
Did you feel like you impressed Marco and his team in Portugal?
I definitely think I did. I feel like for the games that I did play I was good. I was playing at a high level and the feedback I received from Marco was positive.
You've been a part of the Fulham Academy for around 10 years now. How have you found your journey up to this point?
It's been really good throughout to be honest. I've enjoyed loads of different experiences, travelled to many countries and progressed a lot thanks to the excellent coaches we have here. The transition into First Team football has been smooth for me, as I've been training with them for a couple of years now.
Going out on loan was great too and it's nice to gather some senior minutes which is exactly what you want as a young player.
We've got some top players in the First Team. Does that help push you even harder to compete for minutes?
Yeah definitely because that's the goal for me. I want to play for Fulham and that's been my target for a number of years now. Hopefully this season I can take another step towards that.
You spent half of last season on loan at Hibernian. What did you learn during that spell?
I've played in England my whole life so the main thing I learnt was how to play in a different environment and in a more unfamiliar league. Getting to grips not only with the football but also how the club operates was good for me and I really enjoyed my time there.
Lots of young players have enjoyed senior experience under Marco so far. Do they provide an extra source of motivation for you?
Oh definitely. When you see that it's possible for another Academy player to do it, you start to think, 'well why can't I do it?'
I've played with these players and I'm good friends with a lot of them, so it's motivational to watch them make it.
What sacrifices have you had to make to get this far?
There are so many sacrifices you need to make to progress. You don't go out as much, you watch what you eat and it's those little things you do behind the scenes that make all the difference. Even the extras in gym and the stretching contributes massively. If I wasn't playing football, I probably wouldn't be doing any of these things to be honest.
If there's one Premier League side you'd love to face, who would it be and why?
I'd love to face Liverpool, mainly because it would be great to play against my boy Fabio [Carvalho].
What are you personal aims for the upcoming season?
I want to improve on every single aspect of my game, which includes playing more matches and recording more goals and assists.
