Kyle A Lot Happier

Last updated : 24 October 2008 By Covsupport News Service
Kevin Kyle has admitted he is a lot happier in the North East with Hartlepool United.

The Scot,whose bridges seem well and truly burnt at Coventry City, scored twice for Pool against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.

"I hope this can kick-start my career,'' said Kyle to the Northern Echo. "I've had two very horrible years at Coventry. I had a great first month but it all went pearshaped from there.

"My contract is up in the summer and in January I can talk to clubs and I feel I can play in the Championship, but I'm grateful to Hartlepool for this chance to prove I'm still alive.''

"As a striker you want confidence from playing games. "Throughout my career I've not scored enough goals - far from it.

"People look at my stats as a striker and they are probably not good enough. I'm not going to score 25 goals a season like Joel Porter or James Brown, but I have to chip in and it hasn't been good enough.

"That's been my downfall. I will work hard, keep my head down and get on with it. On Tuesday the keeper flapped at a shot and I was there to score (my first) OK the defender got in the way on the line, but it's a goal, it's my goal and I enjoyed it.

"It gave me confidence, but to come in 3-2 down at half-time, I was thinking 'here we go again'. But when the cross came in from Matty Robson late on, it had enough pace on it for me to guide it in if I could get my timing right.

"To see it hit the net, I was ready to hit the barrier and get in the crowd. But I was already on a yellow and didn't want another. I've come here to get games, not miss them.

"I was delighted and pleased for the fans and the team, they've been excellent to me.

"I've only ever had one proper season when I've played week in, week out and that was at Sunderland when I got 55 games and scored 16 goals. If I can get a good run of games the goals will come and I want more for Hartlepool while I'm here.

"I'm enjoying it, I'm getting fitter each game and I'm thinking quicker as well. I'm making the right decisions and everyone is helping me. The gaffer has been different class and I want to keep it going.

"Tuesday was the first time I've come off feeling OK. The previous games I was breathless and my legs were in bits.

But I felt fit on Tuesday and I still had ten or 20 minutes left in me.

"I love it up here, I've had my best years here,'' Kyle went on to say. "I was at Sunderland for ten years and settled in the area after leaving school at 17.

I moved to the Midlands and found it very hard to settle. "I've a little boy up here and six hours travelling to see him was taking its toll. It's hard, but now I'm here it's comfortable.

"We are training at Durham and it's great with the lads, who are all Geordies and Mackems. They are fantastic and it's been easy to settle.

"Playing, winning and scoring goals is the best feeling in the world. I'm loving it here and just want it to carry on week after week. Seeing my name on the scoresheet reminds people I'm still here."