Kamil Conteh 'looking forward to' Huddersfield test as Bristol Rovers midfield competition grows

Kamil Conteh has been a frequent fixture for Bristol Rovers so far this season with midfield competition strong

Kamil Conteh has insisted that Bristol Rovers' trip to Huddersfield Town is a game he's "looking forward to playing in" as the Gas look to continue building some momentum following back-to-back victories in League One.

Rovers will have been out of league action for a fortnight when they take to the pitch at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday afternoon with it 11 days since their woeful 4-0 defeat at Swindon Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.

However, the starting 11 that started at the County Ground was made up of nine changes to the sides that had started against both Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion as the Gas recorded 3-2 and 3-1 victories respectively.

Conteh played the full 90 minutes in both matches with his personal form seemingly on the up and, as a player who came to the Gas from League Two back in January, the 21-year-old admitted these are the sorts of games you particularly look forward to when making the step up a division.

"It's a game I'm looking forward to playing in," Conteh declared. "They're a good team. They were in the Championship. They've got good players that they've kept from last season. But for me, it's about come Saturday, I've got to do my job. We've all got to do our job and we'll see where it takes us but I'm feeling good for it.

"I think a lot of players would be looking forward to it. The teams that have come down, some of the teams that have come up, who seem to be the bigger teams, when you play those games you have the chance to show for yourself and others that we're also a good team. I believe that this Saturday and other games coming up we will do that.

"It would be massive [getting a result] for the next games coming up. I think we've got a game on Tuesday so if we go Huddersfield and do the business, come Tuesday we can just keep it rolling.

"There's going to be times where we're going to be up and times where we're going to be down," the midfielder added. "Not everyone is going to have a smooth sailing season. Ourselves, we're not going to have a smooth sailing season. We've just got to find that consistency in how we play and make that into results. Same as them. They're probably trying to find their consistency."

Although Conteh has been a regular in Matt Taylor's side throughout the season so far, starting eight matches and coming off of the bench in one having missed the Barnsley defeat through international duty with Sierra Leone, there is serious competition in the middle of the park.

Having suffered an injury extremely early into his Rovers tenure, Jamie Lindsay has recently returned to the starting line up and appears set to be an integral player for this young group with his experience of playing in the Championship with Rotherham United.

Meanwhile, Grant Ward is knocking on the door for a return to the starting line up after the 29-year-old came off the bench against Burton to provide two assists and also score as the Gas came from 1-0 down to win 3-1 at the Pirelli Stadium.

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There are also other players such as Luke McCormick, Isaac Hutchinson, Jake Garrett and Kofi Shaw competing for positions in central midfield, although Garrett is probably the most similar type of profile to Conteh being more defensive-minded than the other three.

However, for the time being the spot is very much Conteh's who has recently started to rediscover the excellent form that made him an instant fan's favourite when joining from Grimsby Town in January.

On midfield competition, the 21-year-old said: "I always want to be consistent in training and games, whatever I do, if that's showing myself every day. In terms of my role in the team, just maintaining that at all times and I think that once I do that I'm in a good position.

"It's been good in terms of the change of team but the new players that have come in have been good. We're all just gelling together really but I believe that it will click very soon and once it does I think we'll be on a good roll.

"Personally, I just try and maintain every day. Give 100 per cent in training, in games and just make sure that once I'm on the pitch I show why I'm there. In training I trying to make sure I show everyone why I'm always playing. I think if I have that in my mind all the time, I'm in a good position. I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing."