Humble but hungry Nathan Lowe sets out Stoke City ambitions
Nathan Lowe might be full of confidence after his goal splurge at Walsall but he was still glad for that early goal to start life back at Stoke City.
The 19-year-old, fresh from an 18-goal spell on loan in League Two for half-a-season, only needed nine minutes back at his parent club to get off the mark for them too, bagging the opener in a 1-1 draw at play-off chasing West Brom.
“I’m really happy to help the team out and come back firing on all cylinders,” he said. “Even to get it early I think helped take the pressure out of the game, giving me credit in the bank to go and try things. They had the better opportunities but I still enjoyed my experience and I’m looking forward to the games we’ve got coming up.
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“It made me realise that it’s still 11 players v 11 on the pitch, the goals are the same size and it gives me confidence that I can go and impact at this level as well coming off the back of a good loan spell. I’m just looking forward to the next game. When I scored it was a bit of relief flooding over me and I really enjoyed it.”
He added: “I’m on 19 goals now if you can count both spells and I want to get 25-plus. I don’t know if that’s ambitious but the goals are the same size, it’s 11 v 11 and if I get enough opportunities I back myself to score. I want to score 25-plus goals, help the team to win and start in more games than I’m not. That’s not all up to me, I can only control what I can control so I’m looking forward to that.”
It was an instinctive finish from Lowe after right-back Junior Tchamadeu’s shot fired across his path in the six-yard box.
He said: “As a striker you’re just trying to get yourself in the right position to turn it in if something ricochets to you. You’re always on the move and I was trying to get out of the way for Junior but, at the same time, have a body shape so that if anything came to me I could redirect it. I just got a little touch and redirected nicely into the corner. It doesn’t always go to plan but when I saw it nestle in the corner I was elated, really happy. I enjoyed it.”
Lowe has been on Stoke’s books since he was nine and had a taste of the Championship before going out to play regular senior football for the first time with Walsall. He took a call to come home last week ahead of Tom Cannon’s recall from Stoke to Leicester and was ready to seize his moment.
“I was excited,” he said in an interview for the club. “It was a bit bitter-sweet because I enjoyed my time at Walsall but I can’t turn that down. I was really excited when they outlined ‘You are going to play a big part and we want you to come in and actually impact (things).’ It was going away a boy and coming back a man sort of thing.
“I did really look forward to it, coming into the building with a different attitude. I felt more confident coming in.”
Lowe’s prolific spell at the Bescot Stadium under Mat Sadler has set Walsall up for promotion – they are currently 12 points clear at the top of the table – and it was good for him too.
“The experience as a whole was great, I did really enjoy it and I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “I feel like I’ve come back a different person. I can’t thank them enough for that. Everyone there has made it a really enjoyable experience and I wish them all the best for the rest of the season.
“It was probably the most enjoyable six months of football I’ve had and hopefully I can keep enjoying my football and keep scoring goals because that’s what brings me enjoyment.
“I think the environment they had is similar to the one they had at Stoke. It’s a good community and fans took to me early doors, which was nice, and having the backing from the manager as well. He played me, which he didn’t have to.
“I was 18 years of age going in and there were more senior strikers around. Them having that faith in me was vital and led to me having more confidence on the pitch. When I scored a couple they kept flowing and I was enjoying it more and more and more. It was good.”
Now Lowe is looking forward to carrying on his development under Mark Robins.
He said: “He’s been great. I spoke to him last week before I actually got recalled and he was outlining that I was going to play a big part in his plans, which was great for a young striker to hear, and that he can’t ignore how many goals I’d scored, which was great. I was excited. Then this week I’ve been trying to take as much guidance as I can from him, especially with him being a great striker back in his day. I’m taking little bits here and there and trying to improve my all-round game.
“I was grateful that he gave me the opportunity to start (at West Brom) and hopefully I’ve earned the right to play a part in this team, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench. I’m going to push to start as much as possible because I believe I can. I’m going to make it as hard for him as possible for him not to pick me.”
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