Jamie Donley talks about his fruitful spell at Leyton Orient | OneFootball

We all know by now, just how well Spurs youngster Jamie Donley has been doing during his loan spell at League One side Leyton Orient, both individually and collectively. The 20-year old was rewarded for his performances in January by winning the EFL young player of the month, making him the best young player out of anyone in all three leagues for that month.

Not long after, he was interviewed on the excellent NTT20 pod - which stands for "not the top 20" - i.e. not the Premier League, but the EFL - as they often do with the winner of this award each time.

Jamie Donley speaks to Ali Maxwell and NTT20 about his time at Leyton Orient

For this interview, Donley spoke to presenter Ali Maxwell, who began by mentioning former winners of the award - Amad Diallo, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher - as well as Spurs' Brennan Johnson and James Maddison, and asked the midfielder how it felt to win the same award as some of those players.

He responded: "Yeah, it's very nice to hear them names, and it's nice to see that my performances have been recognised. Obviously, the team has been doing very well. I think, I played really well in January as well. So, it's a very nice feeling to have.

Then, Maxwell mentioned Maddison specifically, and suggested that he and Donley have similarities as a player - before asking if he asks the likes of him and Johnson for advice and tips, or if he is they leave him to do his own thing. From there, he replied: "They're definitely two players I look up to, and get on well with both of them,

They've been texting me saying 'well done' when I've done well, or done something good, and yeah I definitely look up to them. Obviously Madders being in my position, and seeing him in training - and obviously [him] coming to Spurs - he was one of my favourite players even before he came to Spurs.

When he signed I was delighted, and to [be able] watch him and look up to him." Then, Maxwell mentioned how he and Orient were in good rhythm, and referenced the excellent individual and collective form for January, asking Donley to talk him through how it went.

To which, he said: "Yeah we're playing with a lot of confidence at the minute, that's right the way from Josh [Keeley] to whoever is playing in the forward positions. I think everyone's attributes are playing at their top level, and luckily I've had a few assists and a few goals along the way, which definitely helps, and hopefully we can carry this on to be honest."

Then, Maxwell asked "What is your favourite - an assist or a goal? Not just because you've had a couple each in January - but I'm just looking at some stats from your youth career, and I noticed that for Spurs' U18s, you had a lot more goals than assists - but for the U21s in PL2, an incredible amount of assists, and still quite a lot of goals, but not quite as many - do you prefer being a creator or a scorer?"

In response, Donley said: "I don't mind to be honest, as long as I'm helping the team. It's nice to score, it's nice to get assists, it's obviously a lot nicer to get assists that are nice passes, rather than getting someone else to do all the work. I'm delighted to contribute to the team [either way].

Next, Maxwell said: "One of the most aesthetically pleasing assists of the season [from any player] was one of yours against Exeter. I think most people listening will have seen it, but they'll be able to picture it as I describe it as a, sort of, sidewinder, half volley, that just kissed the turf a few times on its way to its target, and was then slotted in.

Talk me through those few seconds, a clipped ball down the line from Darren Pratley - what were you seeing at that point, how did that come about?" Then, Donley explained: "Obviously the ball was quite high in the air, so I thought let me just try and control it first. I chested it and it took a few bounces.

I [then] saw Azeem [Abdulai] on the far side, and he was screaming for the ball, and I just thought he was screaming for it [for the sake of it] as he had a few players around him. He was [then] free and it was quite a tight gap, so I thought let me try smash it along the floor so he has more time.

I hit it perfectly, and it was a great first touch by Azeem, and a really good finish." Then, Maxwell asked him if he had another personal highlight from January, to which he replied: "I think the Bristol Rovers free-kick was in that month, and that was a big moment in that game actually. We just conceded and the game was 1-1.

Everyone thought it was a cross, but I'm definitely claiming it was a shot (laughs). Shot cross. Shot cross. Then, Maxwell mentioned how he has enjoyed watching Donley and Orient as a team, and referrered to how the start of the season was a struggle, and asked him how challenging it was for him.

"Yeah coming into men's football is difficult, it's where you want to be, instead of playing in the U21s. I got put straight in for my first game, maybe the first few games we didn't get the results but we knew the performances were there, and we got unlucky in some of them games.

Even when I wasn't playing, and I was on the bench or not in the squad, it was the same pattern, and the gaffer said in all the meetings that we have been unlucky and the performances are there. I think everyone is seeing it now, we're coming out on the other side, and we're getting results, and a lot more confident performances - keeping a lot more clean sheets and scoring a lot of goals.

Then, Maxwell asked him if he is playing better than he did at the start of the season, or the recognition is as a result of the team doing so much better. "I knew myself that I had a lot more to give, with the start of the season. People saw it in training, the quality that I had, and people would say to me 'if you can show that quality in the games, we'll be winning more games'.

I got the opportunity, and I think I've taken it - I've showed everyone the quality I have, and I think it's showing. Then, he was asked the differences between PL2 and League One. "I think the main thing is winning. That's what they want, it's all about the three points. I think with the U21s it's maybe a bit more about the development, and about yourself.

The mens football is more competitive, you obviously have the bigger crowds and the away fans that travel. I'd probably say the competitiveness, you're doing everything for the win. That's good, it puts more pressure on you, and when you do get the win, it makes it feel a lot better."

After that, Maxwell asked about being competitive as a person, and how the pressure can be a good thing. "Yeah definitely, I'm not saying I'm never nervous, I can be before games. That definitely strives me to perform better. I like to put that pressure on myself, because I know I have the belief that I can win a game for my team, or create something that gets the crowd going."

Inevitably, Maxwell brought up the Manchester City goal, and asked how annoying it must be that it went down as an own goal:"Yeah it's very frustrating, but I guess it is what it is - if Ortega isn't there it doesn't go in, and I'm delighted he was there, to knock it in. I felt like it was my goal in the moment. I still thought it was my goal until the end, where I did my interview and Glenn Murray told me straight away that it wasn't my goal. He couldn't wait to tell me (laughs), [but] it is what is.

Then, Maxwell referenced the celebrations, and asked how it felt: "Probably the best moment of my football career so far. Taking the lead, the atmopsphere - the whole day - the fans celebrating every little tackle. I'm just glad it was me to get them off their chairs, and with all my family and friend makes it even more special."

Next, Maxwell asked about the game itself, and playing Manchester City, and how it must be his ambition to play against them regularly in the Premier League for Spurs. "I was really excited, knowing they're the Premier League champions. That is my ultimate goal, to play in the Premier League consistently. I wanted to test my levels against them.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, they came out and showed how good of a team they are, but it shows that we're not far off - and they had to bring their big dogs on to try and beat us. It was a really good day, but obviously annoyed that we lost.

From there, Maxwell asked about him as a player, and referenced Donley being a striker in his youth career - but playing as an attacking midfielder now, and asked him where he feels more natural. "A few years ago I was probably a striker. Then, when I was 17 - ever since then I moved deeper - mainly because of my passing, I'd say that's one of my main attributes.

My awareness on the pitch [too] and being in the middle, and seeing things, and playing passes. Obviously with the ball striking, I can pick passes, and play clever through balls, which I've got a few assists off. I think that's mainly why I dropped deeper, and I'd say that's [number ten] my favourite position, and where I'd like to play in the future.

Then, Maxwell asked if we can expect a couple more worldies from range: "I wouldn't mind anything to be honest, a goal is a goal - but I don't want to start taking the mick and taking random shots, or I might get taken off. I try and get in the right positions, and hopefully I keep adding to my goal tally."

After, Maxwell asked what Orient manager Richie Wellens asks of him:" I think that's my expectation now, to create things, and score goals, and try to be the best player on the pitch. He's been really happy with me recently. He just told me to stay humble, and keep working hard, in training, and that's mainly the things he's been saying to me."

Next, Maxwell asked him what his and the teams ambitions are for the rest of the season: "My personal [ambitions] are to just keep going the way I've been going, with the goals and the assists. The team goals are probably to get into the play-offs now. With the way we're going and the confidence the boys are playing with, I definitely think we can reach that.

Finally, he was asked by Maxwell, if, as someone who grew up in Colchester, if he ever went to see Colchester United play, had any of their kits, if he had any Sammie Szmodics kits (let's hope we don't have to talk about him tomorrow). "I've been to a few Col U games in my time, my mates are all Col U fans, but I haven't got any shirts.

We [Spurs U21s] played Col U two years ago in the Papa Johns, and my mates were telling me to get these shirts, get like 15 different shirts, and I was like 'I can't get that many', but we ended up beating them 5-1, so I didn't want to ask them, I felt bad. But I followed Col U, and they're doing really well at the moment."