Ipswich Town veteran Sone Aluko knows his role is changing at the club - but he's embracing the part which Kieran McKenna wants him to play.
The 34-year-old has only appeared in two games so far this season - both off the bench in the Carabao Cup, bagging a goal against Bristol Rovers - after signing a new deal in the summer.
For a man who once commanded a £7.5m transfer fee and has played at the highest level of the game, one may think the lack of action would be tough to take.
But Aluko says he fully understood what his role would be when he decided to return.
Sone Aluko decided to return to Town in the summer (Image: Ross Halls)
"That’s part of playing for this club," he said of the competition for places.
"The manager didn’t hide the fact that we were going to have a big squad again this year.
"I knew my role wouldn’t be playing 46 games – so if I’d have wanted that I would have gone elsewhere.
"I understand it, and there’s also a lot of other things he wants me to bring to the team and the club, so I’m adjusting to that role and enjoying it."
Part of that new role has seen him regularly watching games with Town's video analysis team, taking a keen interest in the process and offering his thoughts.
Sone Aluko can often be seen watching games with Town's video analysis team (Image: Steve Waller)
As a man who's played plenty of Premier League games and won promotions from the Championship, he's also got a wealth of knowledge to pass on to his less-experienced team-mates.
Asked to expand on his role more, he explained: "From when he (McKenna) came in, it’s been helping younger players.
"Obviously I’ve been promoted from the Championship a couple of times, I’ve played in the Premier League – so there’s things that I’ve been through which a lot of the players are going through for the first time.
"It’s the culture of the club too, watching games with the analysis team.
"So just little inputs and insights like that – he’s very keen for me to speak up and voice what I think.”
Aluko explained that there's more to being a professional footballer than just what happens on the pitch - a message he's reinforcing with the club's next generation.
Sone Aluko played for Hull City in the Premier League (Image: PA Images)
"We have a good young crop, they did very well in the youth cup last year," he said.
"Playing for a club of this size it’s going to be very hard to break into the first team, but they train with us often and have good energy.
"They learn from us and they’ve got good character, which is a big part of it when you train with the first team – picking things up and learning the next step of being a professional.
"It’s not always just the minutes, it’s how you conduct yourself off the pitch, maybe one day going out on loan – there’s a lot to being a professional footballer these days."
And, while Aluko says he's certainly thinking about life after football - and a potential future in coaching - he still has plenty left to give on the pitch.
Sone Aluko celebrates a goal for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League (Image: PA Images)
"For sure, I have a lot to offer," he stressed. "I’m as fit as I have been for years.
"I had an injury last year which was my first injury for at least a decade, so I feel in great shape.
"As long as I can play I’ll continue to play."
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