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Tyler Cordner has admitted he can’t always play like a Premier League defender in the National League.
The on-loan Bournemouth centre-back enjoys bringing the ball out from the back and is naturally comfortable in possession.
But he’s having to adjust his ways in the thick of a relegation battle with Ebbsfleet.
“Sometimes it’s taking too many liberties, being too comfortable on the ball at times when I needed to go longer,” said Cordner, who was outstanding in the Fleet’s vital win over Wrexham last weekend.
“I did that against Wrexham and it worked in my favour. I made sure I was solid first as a defender and then I can play.
“We had to play the game how we could get the result and it worked in our favour.
“It was really scrappy but I don’t think there was much we could do about that because of the conditions.
“We knew this was a massive game, it’s very close in the bottom four so to win it was a big result.”
Cordner, who turned 21 on Wednesday, was used in midfield during Fleet’s heavy defeat at Barnet but was back in defence last weekend.
“I’ve played there a couple of times, I feel like I’m comfortable on the ball so I can play in that position,” he noted.
“I thought I did okay but a 5-2 loss was not ideal. I’m happy to play wherever the gaffer puts me, hopefully I can do a job and we get three points – that’s the main thing.”
It might feel like a home game for Cordner at Eastleigh this weekend – he lives 10 minutes from their ground – and he could come up against Bournemouth team-mate Charlie Seaman, who is on loan at the Hampshire club.
Cordner will discuss his future with Bournemouth in the new year but for now he’s enjoying his time with Ebbsfleet.
“I’m here until January 7, I need to go to Bournemouth and discuss what’s going to go on after then,” he said.
“I’m not too sure so I’m just going to play as many games as I can until that point, get us out of this battle and go from there.
“It’s just the competitiveness and having to get three points. Having something to play for is the biggest thing.
“Coming into a new environment as well and settling into different teams, how different gaffers want to do things, is always a learning curve and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”
