Pre-Match Thoughts: Hourihane Relishing Plymouth Return

Derby County midfielder Conor Hourihane is looking forward to his first visit back to Plymouth Argyle in 10 years when the Rams make the long journey to the South West on Tuesday night.

Hourihane was handed his first real opportunity in senior football with the Pilgrims back in 2011 and has fond memories of his time at Home Park.

Speaking to RamsTV, the Irishman reflected on his time with Plymouth and looked ahead to Tuesday evening's game (8pm kick-off).

On his memories of Plymouth Argyle...

I've got incredible memories from my time down there. I had three great years at Plymouth and they were the first club really to give me first team action.

I had amazing times; I loved it there and that's where I started my journey and haven't been back since.

On being made captain at Plymouth so young...

I was 21 or 22 and I actually signed when they were in administration and close to losing the club. They were uneasy times but they managed to get a takeover and the manager came in and made me captain, so he obviously saw something in me.

On how important Plymouth were on his career...

They were huge. I was very fortunate when Peter Reid signed me, he wasn't there very long but then I had Carl Fletcher,, who was a central midfielder as a player, and he helped me a lot and made me captain. John Sheridan then came in, who was also a midfielder, and he helped me a lot in my game. Between the three of them, taking bits and pieces from them as managers but also giving their knowledge to me as players was something that really helped me.

One of the coaches called Kevin Nancekivell is still there and I'd drag him in on my days off to do extras to get better, so a huge thanks goes to him for that. I still message him now; he's a great guy and I've got a lot of thanks to people down there.

On the reception he's expecting...

I've done a couple of podcasts and stuff for them over the years but I've never been back, never played against them or been drawn against them in the cups. I'd like to have a little wander around in the spare time maybe to relive the memories but I'm looking forward to getting there.

On Plymouth's season to date...

Credit to them. They've got a really good manager, they play a good style of football and they've been relentless in their results.

It's a big club, a big fan base that travel in their numbers and it's not easy as a player constantly travelling hours to away games, so hats off to them, they've done really well but hopefully come Tuesday night we'll manage to get one over on them.

On the game being an opportunity to move closer to the top two...

Hopefully we can. I think people look at it and are eager for it and want it to happen but it's tough; you can't win every game. Would it be a big result for us if we win there tomorrow night, of course it would, it would be massive but let's just see what happens.