Gilbert ‘not fit’ during City spell

Peter Gilbert blames a protracted transfer and lack of fitness for his failure to hold a first team place at Leicester during his short time at the club.

Speaking on the Yorkshire Post before today’s vital Sheffield Wednesday/Leicester City Championship League match, Gilbert said of his brief City experience:

‘The transfer took a bit longer than we expected so I was in limbo and missed a lot of the pre-season training. By the time I arrived there was only a week or so to go before the start of the season.

‘I played the first four or five games but I wasn’t fit and ended up being left out.’

It was clear from the interview that Gilbert didn’t like playing reserve team football and was moved on within four months of arriving last summer.

Gilbert (22) is clearly delighted to be re-united with Paul Sturrock because he was in Sturrock’s side that won two promotions in three years with the West Country club.

‘It does boost your confidence to know the manager has faith in you,’ said Gilbert.

And Sturrock himself insisted Gilbert was ‘a good signing because he knows how I want the game played.’

‘He won’t be everyone’s cup of tea because offence is the last part of his game. But, defensively he is what I am looking for.’

Gilbert insists he has ‘nothing to prove’ against Leicester. My time there was ‘a disappointment’, he said but ‘this is a massive club and probably a bigger club than Leicester. I’m glad I’ve moved on.’