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Following his heroics in Barnsley’s FA Cup Fifth Round win against Liverpool, Luke Steele has become hot property. Plucked from the obscurity of the West Brom reserves, the 23-year-old was thrust in at the deep end as the Tykes recorded a historic win at Anfield after a hastily arranged loan deal was sorted between the two clubs. Despite a lack of first team action, Steele didn’t disappoint. The inevitable clamour has since littered the back pages as Barnsley build up to a home tie with current holders Chelsea in the quarter finals. After a hard days training and a feature for BBC’s Football Focus (that “dragged”, he tells me), Luke caught up with Danny Wright ahead of the big match…

First and foremost, congratulations regarding the win at Liverpool. You face Chelsea next, what are thoughts ahead of the clash?   

Obviously it’s going to be a tough game. Chelsea isn’t going to be easy but they know we have already beaten a  great side in the form of Liverpool. We’ll be trying to cause an upset and hopefully we can nick a goal and cause another shock. 

What’s the atmosphere like in the Barnsley camp at the moment?  

Well, there’s a lot of media attention so things are buzzing and its cup fever really. There’s a lot of hype - the people of Barnsley are really looking forward to it and it’s definitely great for them, a big Premier League team coming to town. It’s been 10 years since they had Premier League football in Barnsley and it’s good to have top quality opponents coming up to Oakwell. It’s very exciting.    

 How far do you think you’ll go in the competition? 

At the moment we’re just enjoying it. So far it’s an absolutely remarkable achievement and the desire is there to achieve more. We’ve just go to take it one game at a time as we realise it’s a big task ahead.     

How did your loan move to Barnsley actually come about? 

I was aware Barnsley needed a keeper as Heinz Muller was injured and Tony Warner was cup tied and it was a case of my name getting mentioned to the manager, Simon Davey. Luckily I wasn’t cup tied myself and the two clubs agreed a deal. I’m hoping to extend my deal to the end of the season, play as many games as possible and do well during the time I’m here.   

What would you have been doing had Barnsley not come in for you? 

I’d probably still be at West Brom (his parent club)…not playing. It’s been frustrating not playing, which I hate. Dean Kiely’s done a great job in goal and only one keeper can play at a time so I relished the chance to play at Barnsley. I’ve been fortunate enough to get that stroke of luck needed to play. 

What were your feelings after the Liverpool game? How did you celebrate?       

It was a case of preparing for the following league games because we had those to concentrate on. We let our hair down a bit on that night but we were back in during the week to prepare for the mid-week league matches.   

Was there a particular moment that stood out for you in that game?    

When the game was poised at 1-1, I made a save from (Yossi) Benayoun which was quite important. I mean, I’d been fairly busy all afternoon but that was my favourite save as it was an important one, keeping the score at 1-1. That gave us a big confidence boost and as the game went on we wore them down and frustrated them. Ultimately we won it thanks to a wonderful goal by our captain.     

Did you find it difficult getting to know your team mates ahead of the game? You arrived on short notice…     

I had two days to prepare for the game. It’s just a case of trying to find out as much as possible about your team mates in the time you have.     

What are your plans for after the loan move? Would staying at Barnsley be an option or is it a return to the Hawthorns?    

Either way, I just want to carry on playing. I’ve spent a lot of the year on the benches so I’d definitely consider staying on here if it means more games come about. Barnsley is definitely a possibility.   

 You’ve spent a lot of your career on loan, for instance at Coventry City. Where do you see yourself in a few years time? 

I hope to be number one somewhere in a few years time. I’m hungry to play games and hope to be playing for a club permanently, hopefully knocking on the Premier League door.   

You spent four years at Old Trafford with Manchester United? How did you find your time there, and how did you take leaving the club?   

There were good and bad times. It’s a tough place to break into, especially when you had the likes of (Fabien) Barthez and Edwin van der Saar there. They are both great keepers. Obviously it was frustrating not playing football, so in the end I was happy to go…it was time to move on.  

Who is the best player you have played with and against? 

Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are the players I admire. Alan Shearer is the best player I’ve ever faced when I was at Coventry - you don’t realise just how good he is on the ball and how strong he is.   

Who inspires you?   

Been a goalkeeper and a Man U fan it’s got to be Peter Schmeichel, he was such a good keeper. Ryan Giggs, too. He’s had a great career over the past ten years at the very top level and if I could have anyone’s career, it’d be his.   

What are your strengths and weaknesses?   

I’d say my quickness around the box and my reflexes are my strengths. Obviously I don’t want to give my weaknesses away! But I will say every area can be considered a weakness, there’s always something that needs to improve. I’m not perfect by a long way.   

What are your favourite drills on the training ground?   

 I like to work hard and work myself. I put in a 110% every time. I particularly enjoy shooting drills where I’m making saves, but anything that involves competition I love. Crossing and finishing drills are the best, where I’m making saves and I can do my best.     

What’s the best advice you’ve received? And what advice would you give to those aspiring keepers out there?   

I think the best advice I’ve ever received - and this isn’t just for football; if it’s life, snooker or whatever always try to win and play to win and do your best. Always try to bring the best out of yourself and you can come off that pitch knowing you’ve done the best you possibly can. In terms of youngsters I’d say believe in yourself. There’s no right or wrong way to learn goalkeeping and it’s wrong to believe thats the case. Just take a look at Barthez and van der Saar - they’re both different keepers with different styles but they’re both top class. Obviously you need to be good in the first place, but have that belief in your own style and technique. You also need the right mentality. Mistakes don’t matter, just as long as you believe in yourself. At the end of the day, enjoy the game, or there would be no point in even playing.    

How did you get into football?    

I started playing with my older brothers in the garden like you do as a boy. I played in my school team and started playing Sunday league at an early age - about seven or eight years old. I started to have fun when playing full size games and I was taken on by Peterborough at the age of nine. Manchester United came in for me when I was 17.   

What would you be doing if you hadn’t been a footballer?

You get asked this quite a lot. When I was younger I wanted to be in the army or the SAS, something like that. I never know really, but after football I’d like to go into the media…maybe acting?   

What’s the best stadium you’ve played in? 

Old Trafford. I played there in the FA Youth Cup and it’s a massive stadium, there are no bigger stadiums than Old Trafford.    

Just a little bit more about you personally. What’s your taste in music and TV like?  

Wide range, from Michael Jackson to indie to R ‘n’ B. I don’t have any one type. Only Fools and Horses is a big favourite, mostly comedies really. I hate to admit it, but I liked Neighbours when I was younger! I like Friends and Soccer AM too. I also enjoy films.   

How did you spend your first wage packet?   

Paying back people I owed! Friends and family and the like. I save most of my money at the bank and probably just bought a few sweets down at the shop.    

Finally, describe yourself in five words.    

Five words? Help me out here…positive. I enjoy life. I’m adventurous, hungry for success and mentally strong.   Danny thanked Luke for his time, exchanged pleasantries and wished the big man the best of luck ahead of the Chelsea clash.

Luke Steele wears the Adidas Finger Tip Climaproof E7S which he buys from great-save.com

From all of us at great-save.com we wish Luke all the best for Saturday’s game at Chelsea.