The 29-year-old has turned out for Simon Rusk’s side in Premier League Two and the Leasing.com Trophy so far this term, and he spoke highly of the environment he’s gone into, emphasising how impressed he’s been with the mentality and playing style of the group.
He said, “It’s quite a young group, I speak to Simon Rusk and Shannon Ruth quite regularly and whenever I’ve been involved I’ve given my best to help the side.
“I was speaking to Simon the other day and I was telling him that I like the way he approaches the game.
“Some people are consumed with the idea that academy football should be played in a certain way, but Simon has a great balance between trying to express yourself and play through the thirds and doing what you need to do to win matches.
“That’s massive for when some of the lads go on loan, they can’t just go into the first team environment and expect to play a certain way – you have to be prepared to do what it takes to win, and I think Simon has instilled that in his players.
“Not many managers at that level are prepared to do that so full credit to him, he’s drilling into the players that if you want to make a living out of football then you have to make sure you do what it takes to win.”
Steele has kept four clean sheets in as many matches this season, and he spoke about the importance of continuing to get regular football under his belt after a frustrating end to last season.
“It’s been good for me, I didn’t play any football at the end of last season after breaking my wrist, so that game time is vital for me at the moment,” he continued.
“I was on the bench quite a bit and got a game in the FA Cup, so to have the injury was gutting – but those things happen in football.
“This season was about having a chance to get into a rhythm of playing matches and then maintain – I could easily sit around and train without playing, but that’s not the way I view it.
“Each time you get out onto the pitch it’s an opportunity to show what you can do, we have good competition here so every time I get that chance I see it as an opportunity to impress, and that’s exactly what I’ll continue to do.”