Morecambe new boy Connor Oliver playing for keeps after Blackpool move

Morecambe new boy Connor Oliver knows an impressive few games with The Shrimps could extend his Globe Arena stay beyond the end of the season.
Connor Oliver in action against Plymouth.Connor Oliver in action against Plymouth.
Connor Oliver in action against Plymouth.

The on-loan midfielder made his debut off the bench in the defeat to Plymouth on Saturday after joining from Blackpool on deadline day.

Keen to make his mark, Oliver has arrived after the club was recommended to him by the Seasiders’ former Shrimps striker Jack Redshaw.

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The 22-year-old former Sunderland youngster said: “The manager (Jim Bentley) showed interest and I was really keen to come in.

“One of the lads at Blackpool, Jack Redshaw, spoke really well about the club and it was just about getting things done and it finally happened on the last day.

“I’ve just come into play some games and impress and make an impact on the team if I can.

“Hopefully if I can impress the manager and the coaching staff that will put me in good stead for next season.”

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Oliver also spoke to Tom Barkhuizen about his Shrimps move, the pair both having seen opportunities limited at Bloomfield Road before being snapped up by Bentley.

He said: “I played a lot last year in the Championship when I first came in (from Sunderland).

“Then we got relegated to League 1 but the new manager (Neil McDonald) came in and he didn’t really fancy us.

“He was blunt enough with me and told me how it was so from that point of view I just needed to get out of it.”

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A ball-playing central midfielder, Oliver believes he will only get better with game time between now and the end of the season having played just eight times for the Tangerines this season, four coming in the league.

He said: “I like to get on the ball, I like to play.

“I’m maybe not as physical as some of the other lads but I’ve improved.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played 90 minutes and I’ll only get better with game time.”

Oliver had a difficult debut, coming on at half-time after Alex Kenyon’s red card had seen The Shrimps reduced to 10 men against Plymouth.

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He said: “It was tough to come into it with 10 men but we all had to knuckle down.

“I knew what the job was, to try and help keep it down and try and nick a goal.

“No start’s easy but the lads didn’t give in and battled right to the end.

“We could have got a goal or two and might even have been in with a shout of an equaliser at the end.”