ELKAN ON A SEASON OF LEARNING AND A CHANCE TO FACE MESSI – News

Young Town defender could face world champions Argentina

Elkan Baggott is excited to continue a year of learning as he prepares for a possible meeting with world champions Argentina – and legendary attacker Lionel Messi. 

The young Blues defender, who spent last season on loan with Gillingham and then Cheltenham, is away on international duty with Indonesia for games against Palestine (14 June) and then Argentina in Jakarta (19 June). 

Messi, who this week revealed he is heading to MLS side Inter Miami, has been named in a strong Argentina squad for the game, which will be played in front of a 90,000 crowd at the sold out Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. 

And Elkan is looking forward to gaining more valuable experience during his time on international duty. 

“Even our first game (v Palestine) is hard for us because they are inside the top 100 (93rd, Indonesia are 149th), so if we’re able to get a win from that it would be brilliant for our FIFA rankings,” the 20-year-old said. 

“But then the opportunity to play Argentina in the second game is a bit of a dream. 

“I’m just going to try and enjoy it because a chance to do that doesn’t come round very often at all. The atmosphere is going to be amazing and I think the tickets sold out in five minutes or something like that. It’s a 90,000-seater stadium so it’s going to be an amazing experience.” 

Reflecting on his season, which saw him make 29 appearances for League Two Gillingham before spending the second half of the campaign with Cheltenham in League One, Elkan said: “I’d say ‘a year of two halves’ is a pretty good way to sum it up. 

“I started the season well and played a lot of games for Gillingham, playing well, and then got the move up a league to Cheltenham which made a lot of sense. 

“To not play much there (one appearance) was obviously frustrating so it really was a season of two halves. It’s all about learning, though, so in the long-term I’m sure that it will all benefit me because I learnt so much at both clubs. 

“That’s what it’s all about for me.” 

Elkan remained in touch with Ipswich throughout his two loan spells, catching up with team-mates during the Blues’ visit to Cheltenham in April. 

“I spoke to Ipswich a lot during the season and they kept in touch which was really nice,” he said.  

“Ipswich coming to play Cheltenham was a strange day but it was good to see everyone. 

“There were a lot of new faces for me so it was good to meet a few of them going into next season. 

“I would go in the changing room after Cheltenham games and the first thing I would do would be check the Ipswich score, which was brilliant.  

“It was such an amazing season for the club and it was brilliant to see us get promoted. 

“I’m looking forward to coming back for pre-season and seeing everyone.”