Levi Colwill has vowed not to let Championship play-off final heartbreak with Huddersfield Town hold him back as he strives to prove himself at the highest level - and says he's had the best year of his life to date.
The 19-year-old centre-back's season-long loan from Chelsea was an overwhelmingly successful one but one which ended in disappointment for Colwill, who scored the own goal which ultimately saw Huddersfield come up short in the play-off final against Nottingham Forest.
“There wasn’t much I could do about the goal," Colwill told Goal after the game. "I just wanted to block it but he kicked my knee up and it hit it. I didn't know what to say but I thought f**k it. I’ve got to play on and help the team. That’s what I tried to do. It was just unfortunate. It is football, bad luck, I won’t let it stop me or get my head down.
“It has been the best year of my life. I am proud. The staff and team have been brilliant. We had great togetherness and I am proud to be part of this team."
With no option to buy in the loan contract, Colwill will now leave Huddersfield and is expected to take his next steps in the Premier League. Numerous sides have voiced an interest in signing the teenager but 90min revealed back in April that Thomas Tuchel's plan is to take a closer look at him during Chelsea's pre-season.
On his Chelsea future, Colwill said: “We will see [whether I stay for another season or go back to Chelsea]. I will focus on the internationals first and we will see after that.”
Praise has not been hard to find for Colwill during his time at Huddersfield, and he appears to have made a huge impression on his team-mates, with several tipping the teenager for the brightest future imaginable.
“Levi will go the whole way, I feel like he will go straight to the top,” goalkeeper Lee Nicholls said. “I feel like he could even become England captain if he wanted to be.”
Former Derby man Duane Holmes added: “Listen, I’ve played with some good players and he is right up there. I played with [Fikayo] Tomori who plays centre-back for England and Levi is right up there with him.
“He is 19-years-old and he has been one of our best players this season. The own goal doesn’t matter one bit, he should be really proud of how he has handled himself in his first year as a professional.”
Source : 90min