Having navigated out of non-league, where he balanced a part time job as a care worker alongside turning out for seventh tier Histon.
Nick Freeman could be excused for feeling as if he had earned his chance at playing in the Championship, after achieving an unlikely promotion with Wycombe last season.
The 25-year-old made several appearances for the Chairboys in the second tier and was even starting for Gareth Ainsworth’s side up until mid-December. However, a yearning for consistent first team football led him to make the move to Leyton Orient last month on a loan deal until the end of the season.
“I started the season, and I was playing. Then we had an international break, and I came back and wasn’t really getting a look in, eventually I wasn’t making the match-day squads”, explained Freeman.
“I thought okay I’m 25 now, I want to be playing regular football. I had that in my mind for January. Between then and January I played a few more games so it was a case of should I do it, should I not. Then January came and I thought you know what let me just get out somewhere to play some games and go enjoy myself again.”
“Breath Of Fresh Air”
By dropping down two divisions into League Two, Freeman made a brave choice in the January window, but it’s one that he feels more than comfortable with.
“If you would have asked me if I wanted to drop down maybe a year ago, I would have said I don’t really want to. But now I just want to be happy and go enjoy myself, whether that was to League One or League Two.”
“Ultimately, I just want to be involved week in week out. I want to go out there on a Saturday and be playing, I don’t want to be sitting in the stands watching. Going to Orient was just a breath of fresh air because I needed a change of scenery for the next few months.”
“I Saw Something Special At Orient”
Freeman was part of a busy winter recruitment drive by the O’s, arriving at the club as one of four fresh faces as Head Coach Ross Embleton sought to add quality to his squad heading into the closing stages of the season.
The 25-year-old explained how the club’s desire to bring him in made the decision to make the switch an easy one.
“I had a couple of options, but Ross sold the club to me very well. It’s local to me and it’s obviously a big club. I saw something special at Orient. They even set up a little video for me of how they play, it showed how detailed they were and how much they wanted me.”
Speaking post-match after the draw with Colchester last weekend, Embleton stated that it would take a little while for the new signings to get up to speed on how he wants them to play. Freeman has already made three appearances for his new club and it’s clear that he’s aware of the expectations of Embleton’s system.
“It’s about discipline. He wants us to stay in our shape when we’ve got the ball and it’s about being patient.”
“Usually, I’m a player that likes to go everywhere to try and get the ball. Whereas if you see the way we play, our two number 8s are quite disciplined in our shape. If it’s on one side of the pitch you have to wait, then when you get the ball that’s your time to turn, get at them, or pick a pass.”
Having experienced two promotions during his time in Buckinghamshire as part of a squad that received plaudits for their outstanding mentality and dressing room culture, Freeman knows what it takes to achieve success in the EFL, something he clearly outlined.
“I know what a changing room has to be like to get promoted. You can’t have people on each other’s backs. You can’t have people talking about each other. If someone makes a mistake you just have to gee each other on. You have to have that positive energy but also demand the most from each other.”
“It’s Just About Getting Consistency”
On a poor run of form that has seen them go four games without a win or a goal, the O’s currently reside in 10th in League Two, three places and four points off of the playoff positions. However, citing other clubs in the division as examples, Freeman feels that a top seven finish is far from out of reach for his new side.
“From what I’ve seen the boys are more than capable of doing it. It’s about going on good runs. Look at Tranmere, they won 6 out of 7 and jumped from 12th up to 3rd. It’s just about getting consistency and getting a good run together.”
Looking ahead to the future, the former care worker would understandably love another crack at the Championship, should his parent club achieve an unlikely survival, but knows that will only be possible if he remains fully focused on the job at hand in E10.
“I’ve still got another year of my contract, so if I do well then maybe the gaffer will want me back in the plans. If not, then we’ll see what happens. That’s completely down to him when the summer comes. Right now, though, I just want to perform to the best of my abilities and help this team as much as possible.”
