Pennant: My Confidence Is Sky High

Last updated : 27 September 2003 By Kevin Markey

Pennant, on loan at Leeds from Arsenal, was sent home between last season's Euro U-21 qualifiers against Portugal and Turkey because he broke a team curfew.

He was also sent off in a friendly against Croatia in August for punching an opponent, although he was racially abused by an opponent.

Since joining The Whites however, he has been making the headlines for all the proper reasons.

Speaking in today’s Mirror, Pennant said: “With England the curfew thing wasn't that big a problem because David Platt brought me back straight away and I've played in nearly all the qualifiers.

"But when you're young you make mistakes - everybody makes mistakes - and it's all about learning from them.

"I've never done anything like that since and I'm not planning to. It was just a bad choice and I got punished.

"I think people have picked out one or two things that I've done and assumed that I've got a chip on my shoulder.

"But that's just my fiery nature. I'm not shy and I don't hold back in expressing myself.

"When it comes down to attitude and discipline, I'm not a problem. They say a book is judged by its cover and sometimes it's the same with people, which isn't always fair, but you just have to deal with it.

"I've only had one booking since I've been here and that was only because I came in a little bit late. There was nothing malicious about it."

Reid is delighted with Pennant, the pick of his seven loan summer signings. And the player, 21 in January, is pleased to have been given the chance to perform in the Premiership.

"My confidence is sky high now. That's what playing regularly does for you. There's only a certain amount of reserve football you can play before you start to think 'what's going on?'

"That's when your concentration dips. You start getting a bit lackadaisical and frustrated and that's when people start talking about your attitude.

"But at the minute I'm playing every game for Leeds and I can honestly say there's not one thing that's gone wrong.

"I knew if I got the chance I would be comfortable playing at this level. I'm just grateful to Leeds, and to Peter Reid especially, for giving me the chance. It was frustrating not getting a game at Arsenal when you know you're capable of doing well in the Premiership. But I don't want to say anything bad about the club because I understand that I was behind top-drawer internationals in the pecking order.

"If Arsenal say I can stay for the rest of the season I would be happy because that means 30-odd games in the Premiership.

"But if they say no and they want me to come back, that's also good because they obviously want me back for a reason. I'm relaxed about the whole thing and I feel it will be good for me whatever happens."