Stevenage midfielder Harvey White is starting to enjoy the physical aspect of his role more after helping the team to three successive wins.
Boro beat Stockport County 2-1 on Saturday to move up to 12th in League One and are also through to the third round of the EFL Trophy.
White has made 25 appearances so far this term and scored his first league goal for the club back in August.
“I’m getting more freedom to get on the ball and show what I can do. On the opposite side, I’m winning a lot of duels and starting to enjoy the battle game a lot more,” he told BBC Three Counties Radio.
“A year and a half ago, I didn’t really like them but now I’m starting to really love going up against someone knowing it’s me v them, one v one, and hopefully coming out on top.”
White moved to the Lamex Stadium from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023 and has taken time to establish himself in the first team.
“Harvey’s still growing, still learning those bits that are the ugly side of it. It helps playing with someone like Louis (Thompson) and now he’s got Dan Phillips breathing down his neck, there’s competition,” said boss Alex Revell.
“Harvey’s playing a lot more football than he ever has so for us and for him, that’s a a compliment to how he’s doing.”
Revell said the manner of the win over Stockport after a disappointing first-half display exemplified the team’s spirit and togetherness.
“The first half was too much like a basketball game. We like to have control. We needed to sort that out, which we did, and second half they had to resort to long balls, trying to flick things on,” he added.
“I’ve been here a long time now. I’ve seen promotions, I’ve seen tough times and when you keep believing in what you are trying to do, and the players as a group are sticking together, it (form) turns. You start putting in performances and have that courage to play more, I’ve always said it would click.”