On-loan striker currently recovering from chest infection

CHRIS Holroyd says he would ‘jump at the chance’ of joining Stevenage on a permanent deal once his loan spell with the club comes to an end.

The striker has been in terrific form scoring six goals in 11 starts during his stint at Boro but is unsure about what will happen when he returns to parent club Brighton on Boxing Day.

“I don’t know what’s going on at the moment, these are uncertain times for me,” the 24-year-old told The Comet.

“I don’t know where I stand coming towards the end of the loan. Discussions will take place but whatever happens, wherever I am, I want the best for my career.

“If it came to it, and Brighton wanted to negotiate, I’d jump at the chance to join Stevenage.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at the club since I arrived. I’ve really enjoyed playing for Stevenage, I feel like I’m improving and it’s a really good set-up so I’d jump at the chance.”

Stevenage were due to travel to Port Vale on Saturday but a pitch inspection yesterday (Thursday) led to its postponement, so boss Graham Westley has arranged a practice match between his squad and the youth team in London instead.

Holroyd is unlikely to play a part in that match as he is recovering from a chest infection but believes his manager is getting the best out of his players during training as the cold snap bites.

“With the game being called off early it has been quite good as in a way the gaffer knows how hard he can work us,” the striker said.

“If it had been left too late, and we’d have found out after travelling up there, it wouldn’t have been as good.

“It’s been really stop-start for me at the moment, especially now the Vale game is off as it means it’s been a few weeks for me without a game [Holroyd was ineligible for the FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon last Saturday due to the terms of his loan deal].

“It’s been difficult, but you have to keep training hard and working hard.

“It’s easy, if the weather’s bad, to take things easy but the gaffer’s determined and one of the things he’s got across to the lads is the need to work hard and have that commitment. I think that’s one of the reasons they won the league last season.

“I’ve been ill all week. Most of my time off has been spent with me driving on the motorway. I got stuck the other day on the M25 for six hours going back to Brighton. I managed to stay warm enough though.

“I’ve been off since Monday, struggling with a chest cold, but I’m getting better and will be ok for next weekend’s match.”