After speaking to Sinclair Armstrong in the wake of Bristol City’s win over Stoke City, two things became very obvious about the striker – his desire to improve at Ashton Gate and the importance his faith plays in his career.
The Ireland youth international made the move to the West Country from QPR during the summer transfer window and got off to the perfect start in front of his new supporters. After leading the line against Hull City on the opening day, he nodded in his first City goal against Millwall on his full home debut as the Reds beat the Lions 4-3.
His hunger was clear that afternoon as he passionately celebrated in front of the Lansdown Stand before embracing his teammates. A second in City colours came a month later against Oxford United before the 21-year-old had to settle for a more sporadic role from the bench with the evergreen Nahki Wells instead leading the line.
Having found the net off of the bench in the Robins’ 4-0 demolition of Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle, Armstrong was handed his first start in 11 matches against Sunderland at The Stadium of Light. Although the forward had little to work with in the North East, he worked hard at the top end of the pitch before being withdrawn on 60 minutes as the Reds secured a 1-1 draw.
What had appeared to be a routine substitution was followed by a hamstring injury that ruled the forward out for the entirety of the festive period. Although he was disappointed to be ruled out, the 21-year-old’s Christian beliefs helped him focus on his recovery without becoming despondent.
“I just took it as an opportunity to get closer to God and my faith,” Armstrong told Bristol Live on Wednesday evening. “I just took it as that and I just thank God because he’s never left me and not forsaken me. I’ve just continued to try and do my best every single day.
“When the injury happened, I was trying my best to try and not get upset but of course, you’re going to be upset because you’re going to miss a period of time. I just told myself, when you get back from that, you have to hit the ground running straight away and just try your best to contribute loads of goals and assists until the end of the season.”
Having returned from the sidelines off of the bench in the Reds’ 1-0 defeat to Coventry City at the CBS Arena, Armstrong made his first start in over a month when Manning’s side welcomed Blackburn Rovers to Ashton Gate in their final game of January. In his hour of action, the former QPR man was consistently involved as he got both Dion Sanderson and Danny Batth booked and even won the free-kick from which Scott Twine opened the scoring.
The 21-year-old followed that bright return to the starting line-up with a impressive substitute display against Oxford at The Kassam Stadium. City had been reduced to 10 men following Joe Williams’ red card and as a lone forward, he continuously ran the channels and again drew the foul that led to Mark Sykes’ leveller.
When he was replaced by George Tanner late on, the away end could be heard chanting his name. In the two games since the supporters have only got further behind the forward and that alongside the support of Manning and his teammates has got the best out of the striker.
“It’s just confidence at the end of the day, that’s what has probably been missing in some parts of the season,” Armstrong admitted. “It’s probably a lack of confidence.
“I think when I have the team backing me and I have the gaffer backing me, you just ooze confidence. At the end of the day, the fans are the 12th man. When they’re there and they’re chanting your name, sometimes you try to block that noise out but it’s very hard because they’re very loud. I appreciate the fans because it’s been hard for me obviously coming back from injury and trying to get back into the team, but I do really appreciate the fans chanting my name and getting behind the team.
“Sometimes when I go out, I see some City fans and it’s nice. It’s a nice city, I’ve managed to meet some nice people and meet some nice fans.”
Both Manning and City’s technical director Brian Tinnion have reinforced the idea that the Robins are not currently in a position to sign the finished article at the top end of the pitch. Having sold Tommy Conway to Middlesbrough in the summer transfer window, the Reds reinvested that fee in two young forwards – Armstrong and Fally Mayulu.
While the latter departed Ashton Gate on loan this winter, returning to Austria with Sturm Graz, the former is looking to establish himself as Bristol City’s number nine. Of course, the 21-year-old knows that he needs to add more goals to his game but he is not at all concerned and is instead working hard on the training ground with Manning, Chris Hogg, Alex Ball and ‘The Veteran’ Wells to hone his craft.
“I’m not stressed or anything like that because I believe in my ability,” Armstrong smiled. “I believe in what I can do and I know it will come, it’s just a matter of time. These past few weeks I’ve tried my best to have good decision making. In the eyes of the public, I’m some raw guy or whatever they say but at the end of the day, I’m just trying to improve myself. I’m not perfect at all, but today I’d like to think I had some nice touches.
“I’m not going to lie, there have been a lot of times this season where the ball has been slipped in behind or played into the channel and I’m 100 per cent backing my ability to get that. I look at the games this season where I’ve been slipped in against the likes of Derby away, Coventry at home and I think to myself, these are the balls you get and I’ve just lacked that clinical edge.
“The game I look back to and think, that’s the type of goal I want to score is Plymouth at home, that’s the last goal I scored. I’m not going to lie here and say I haven’t been working on these things in training. I’m constantly working to try and improve myself.
“At the end of the day, it’s repetition and I’m working on it with Hoggy and Bally and they’re grilling me about these things like not hitting the target,” the 21-year-old continued. “I’m just trying to improve myself, improve my finishing, my weak foot, my right foot. Obviously learning from Nahki as well. I don’t even call him Nahki, I call him ‘The Veteran’ because he has over 100 goals in the Championship. At the end of the day, we’re competing with each other but it’s such a good relationship because I know he brings the best out of me and I bring the best out of him as well.
“Having him there and just seeing how he is in training is so important for a young’un like me because I’m still 21. Having him there is so important and hopefully, I can continue to learn from Naks.”
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With their 2-0 win over Stoke on Wednesday evening, the Robins have moved within two points of sixth-placed West Brom. Although those within the Reds’ camp have played down the importance of the table, with just 14 games left of the league campaign, City are well and truly in the mix for the play-offs.
Even if only for a matter of hours, Manning’s side could climb into the top six on Saturday afternoon with a win over Severnside rivals Cardiff City. Armstrong has already had a taste of the derby atmosphere having led the line when Omar Riza’s side travelled to Ashton Gate earlier this season and while he expects a challenge, it is one he’s relishing.
“I’m looking forward to it 100 per cent,” admitted the striker. “The atmosphere here for the home game was top. Of course, I’ve played in derby games being involved for QPR against Millwall as well.
“We go there and it is going to be a tough game with two teams who obviously want to win the game. Hopefully, it’s going to be a top atmosphere and the fans can just come in numbers and support us.”