WATCH: 'I wish I'd come back a year earlier' : McDaid on his move to Glens
Striker talks about time and Leeds and return to Danske Bank Premiership on latest BetMcLean show
Robbie McDaid has revealed that he should have returned to the Danske Bank Premiership much sooner than he did.
The Glentoran striker left English Championship giants, Leeds, in 2016 before spending a further season in England with York City.
But McDaid (22) says it was the next move to the Oval that help him rediscover his love for the game.
"I wish I'd have come home a year earlier. I've come home and reinvented myself, and I'm enjoying my football again,” he told us.
“There were times when I'd be coming back home on Saturday night where I hadn't played, or had played poorly, and I started thinking, 'I'm not enjoying this.'
“But being back now I'm playing every week and playing with a great club like Glentoran is brilliant. I'm really enjoying my football again."
McDaid was speaking as a guest on our latest BetMcLean football show in partnership with NIFL, now available to view on Cool FM’s Facebook show (see link below) and to download as a podcast.
He says he is now happy plying his trade at the Oval and insists he has not angling for a move back to England.
"If it happens, it happens. I'm not pushing it. I'm more than happy to keep playing with the Glens and developing here. It's a great league and doesn't get the credit it deserves,” he says.
McDaid, who was on the scoresheet last night (Tuesday) against Crusaders in the League Cup quarter finals.
But the Glens ended up losing 4-2.
McDaid believes Ballymena, who also booked their place in the semi-finals, will have an excellent season.
"They've got a big squad there, and that's important - real quality players to come in off the bench. I would say they're the real deal, but obviously it's hard to look past the likes of Linfield and Crusaders,” he said.
Also guesting this week is former Ballymena player turned coach, turned author, Trevor McMullan.