Just before the end of the season, Sheffield Hallam University sports journalist student Lewis Pendleton spoke to ambitious Chesterfield striker Colin Larkin for a special article to be published in the University's own newspaper, and for his final dissertation.  The football club agreed to reproduce the article on the club's official website for the interest of supporters.  It reveals that Colin still has ambitions to play for his country.

PLAYER PROFILE

Colin Larkin - Chesterfield FC.

by Lewis Pendleton

Chesterfield's season might be petering out to a comfortable yet ultimately disappointing conclusion, but for one of its brightest stars the likely mid-table finish is merely the first step in a personal mission that has international honours as its target.

An unremarkable campaign it may have been for the Spireites but for striker Colin Larkin, this relatively straightforward end to 2005/06 offers the 23 year-old the continuity he has seldom found in his brief but eventful career.

However, speaking before his team's derby match at Barnsley, Larkin was more than aware that, despite having few relegation fears in early April, the club's form is worrying and is threatening to undermine what has been a decent season from the perennial relegation favourites:

"We're on a bad run at the moment and need a result big time", he says of Chesterfield's five-match losing streak.

"We're stuck in a rut. It seems any mistake we make is ending up in the back of our net and that can't continue. We need to stop giving teams a one or two goal head start."

The disarming frankness in which Larkin talks demonstrates the strong character he has had to develop in negotiating the kind of obstacles that would have sent lesser players under.

Colin on Wolves.....

The Dundalk-born forward began his career at Wolves in 1999 but in the course of the next three years, as the Black Country outfit made good on years of underachievement, he only appeared four times and just once in the starting eleven.

Understandably, this still rankles with the affable and open character: "It was disappointing because I felt I was doing well in reserve matches and deserved more of a chance."

Although calling his time at Wolves "disheartening", Larkin could barely have asked for a better start: "I came off the bench and scored on my debut in a derby game against Walsall in front of a full-house at Molineux. But it was a bit overwhelming for a 17 year-old and the rest of the game passed me by really."

In subsequent months the promising youngster saw himself knocked down to sixth choice forward as the Old Gold brought in the big names to fire them to promotion. Ade Akinbiyi, George Ndah and Michael Branch were the signings Dave Jones decided would take them up and so Larkin decided it was time to move on:

"It was after playing regularly on-loan at Kidderminster that I realised I had to leave. Getting promotion would have been worse for me anyway as they would have had to buy even more players to keep them there so I've no regrets about going."

Colin on Mansfield Town.....

Dropping down a division in the summer of 2002, the diminutive Larkin joined Stuart Watkiss' newly-promoted Mansfield for a not inconsiderable £135,000. Irish eyes weren't smiling though as Watkiss was sacked that Christmas, the Stags went straight back down and injury wrecked his chance to prove himself.

"I only started 14 games in my first season, and even though I scored seven goals I feel I never really fulfilled my potential."

The fact he was signed as a replacement for fans' favourite Chris Greenacre, who left in a big money move to Stoke, saw even more pressure placed on his slender shoulders: "I was brought in to fill his boots and I'm a completely different player."            

Completely different he may be to the more powerful striker, now at Tranmere, but with a record of nearly a goal every other game in three seasons at Field Mill, the faithful soon took a liking to Larkin.

"The fans appreciated me there. They saw I was willing to die for the cause and now when I go back to Mansfield, there isn't a bad word said about me."

Despite his popularity, his fortunes took a nosedive when the managerial reins were taken up by Carlton Palmer. As Mansfield were seen as one of the most progressive lower league clubs, this was a surprising choice given the unmitigated disaster his spell at Stockport was.

Palmer has gained a reputation for his no-nonsense disciplinarian manner, allegedly reducing a Hatters player to tears on one occasion, so it seemed inevitable he and the more free-spirited Larkin would clash.

Colin on Carlton Palmer.....

"He's not my favourite person. There's a lot of history there. We fell out because I didn't agree with his training methods.

"He was very old-school, into fitness and running around a field. As long as we were fit the fact that we couldn't string three passes together didn't bother him."

As a talented athlete Larkin expected more from his manager on the training pitch and thought it right to voice his displeasure at his anachronistic approach.

Palmer's reaction was to force him out of the club. In a startling admission, Larkin reveals a darker side to the ex-England international: "I never wanted to leave but he accused me of faking injury which didn't go down too well with me. In my mind, I knew I had to go then."   

Palmer's deliberate alienation of his star man backfired on the Mansfield fans as Larkin moved on a free to their bitterest rivals Chesterfield in the early season.

Manager Roy McFarland said after clinching his signature: "I'm delighted to have signed Colin. There were plenty of other clubs in the race for him and he will be an important part of the jigsaw."

His season at Saltergate has yet again been plagued by injuries but he is now firmly established in McFarland's starting eleven and enjoying League One at what he calls "a bigger club", viewing promotion as a realistic aim next season provided he and the team can stay injury-free and learn from this term's errors.

Colin on his ambition.....

Larkin also has his eye on a call-up to the Ireland squad: "Steve Staunton is looking at younger players and if I'm in the Championship with Chesterfield then I can't see why not. It's definitely achievable if you have the belief, as I have."

After repeatedly emerging on top after every setback, it is hard to bet against the likeable Larkin playing alongside his hero Robbie Keane in the near future.

Lewis Pendleton spoke to Colin Larkin in early February just prior to the local-derby against Barnsley.