Catching up with Ruben Abreu

After scoring a massive goal in last weekends cup quarter final win, we decided to sit down and delve into Rubens thoughts on the season so far, what's to come this season and his dazzling return from injury.

The first thing we wanted to get an idea of is how the mood is in the changing room at the moment, it's safe to say that 3 league losses in a row may have dampened the spirits after such a strong start in the league. However, a cup quarter final win is enough to get the confidence back flowing for any side.

"I feel like as one of the oldest lads at the clubs I was able to see whole change in mood from changing rooms to the actual pitch. We started the league on a high so losing 3 games in a row was quite demoralising, but we have turned that around now with a massive win last Saturday and I believe that if we keep playing how we have been training it will be very hard for any team in this league to come and compete against us. Tommo and Paul have been working very hard behind closed doors, from fitness to ball work and it paid off on Saturday. And I think now we are starting to see the results of the hard work we are all putting in from management to players."

The next thing we wanted to find out was what Ruben thinks is the reason for the dip in form over the last 3 league games, as well, what is needed to turn that around and get back on track for promotion.

"I think we all got a bit too comfortable, maybe because of how we started the league, we stopped doing the basics and that's what it's all down to. But as I said previously, if we keep working hard for each-other and if we keep playing the football we know we can play, it will be hard for any team in this league to match us from now on. We just have to be willing to leave everything on that pitch and stick to the basics, if we do that we will do very well this season."

After spending the start of the season on the sideline and then returning from injury with a second half hat-trick off the bench, as well as the previously mentioned huge goal at the weekend. We wanted to know if Ruben is feeling confident at the moment when out on the pitch.

"I feel good, I know i'm still not 100% fit but i'm feeling confident. Tommo and Paul are pushing me every single week to the point i'm still sore on Friday after a Tuesday training session but that is what I need. It was a great feeling to come back from an injury and score a hat-trick, and then a massive goal last weekend too. All I plan to do now is keep up the hard work, graft hard for the boys and hopefully keep my name in that scoresheet."

Now onto the weekend, having only won 2 of their last 6 league games, we wanted to know if Ruben saw Saturdays fixture against Tintwistle as a good opportunity to get back to winning ways in Division one, and it seems Ruben has an extra bit of motivation to make sure that does happen.

"I don't think we will go into this game thinking that it will be a walk through because we all know what happens when you go onto a pitch with that mentality. We aren't really interested in who we are playing as long as we get the result we need that's all that matters. Funny story also is that Tintwistles manager is actually a good mate of mine, we were attacking partners for a good half a decade at Stockport Town so I will one hundred percent be looking to get back on the scoresheet for old times sake."

Lastly, we wanted to know what Ruben thinks is needed from everyone at the weekend to ensure Central get back to winning ways in the league, and start working their way back up the league table.

"Seriously all we need is to start the game properly, and when I say properly I mean putting pressure on the opposition from early, keep the ball and be patient, and we will one hundred percent win the game on Saturday. There has already been a boost in the changing rooms after that great performance last weekend from absolutely every single one of the boys. I'm sure if you look at the footage of our celebrations after the penalty shootout you will be able to see that I celebrated for 1 minute and the next minute I was on the floor with cramps, and I wasn't the only one either. And that's just because we literally left everything on the pitch and as long as i'm around, i'm going to make sure I push the boys to the maximum that I can because I joined Central for one thing and one thing only. And that is to win this league for us, for Tommo and Paul, but most importantly to put Central back on the map and to show everyone what we are actually about."

It's safe to say that those are strong words from one of Centrals many star men. The message throughout consists with one hundred percent commitment from minute one, not only on Saturdays, but at every training session, from every player. If Central can manage that for the remainder of the season they are sure to be in with a chance of playing in the Premier Division next season. Hopefully, that is exactly what we see in Saturdays fixture at The Seashell Trust.