Sweeney searching for top form (From The Northern Echo)

Sweeney searching for top form

10:13am Monday 7th December 2009 in

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ANTONY SWEENEY hopes a return to basics will ensure he gets back to form.

The Hartlepool United midfielder has only been a phepherial figure this season, and has yet to find the sort of form that earned him a name as a goalscoring central midfielder.

He has appeared 20 times this season but his last goal came in early April.

But his performance in Saturday’s win over Millwall showed encouraging signs that his best form may not be too far away.

Sweeney had a couple of chances to score and admitted: “It may have been my best game for a long time.

Personally this season, I’ve been disappointed with how I’ve played.

“For some reason or another, I couldn’t get into top gear like I wanted to. I’ve tried changing things to get back to how I want to be.

“I’ve been working hard in training, I’ve been getting back to basics, even changing my boots back to Predators – I’ve scored plenty of goals in the past in them.’’ The 26-year-old added: “Hopefully I’m getting there, I know it will turn but it’s frustrating when you are searching for form and hoping it will come back.

“When you are searching for form you can do too much to try and end up getting in the wrong positions, trying to force things.

“Trying to get a goal, or a chance, sometimes it comes to you rather than you finding it, so I’ve tried to hold back a bit and not try to force it.

“I’ve been timing my runs a little bit better to get there and nearly did, on another day I’m sure I can.

“I don’t think it's down to expectations after the way I ended last season, I came back in good shape and enjoyed pre-season but it didn't happen.

“Sometimes players do lose a bit of form.

“So I’ve stepped back to look at everything and I’m hungry to do well, keep my place in the side and get back to how I know I can play.’’ Pools home game with Gillingham is now on Tuesday, January 26. It was scheduled for January 2, but the visitors play in the third round of the FA Cup.