Friday 7 November 2014 17:19, UK
Mark Cullen has seen his decision to drop down the divisions with Luton Town justified, with the club flying high in Sky Bet League Two.
The former Hull City trainee was released at the KC Stadium in the summer of 2013, putting him at a crossroads in his career.
Luton snapped him up as a free agent, with Cullen slipping into the non-league ranks.
He was, however, always convinced that he was taking one step backwards in order to take two forward, and that has proven to be the case as promotion was secured to the Football League last season and a flying start made to life back in the fourth tier.
Cullen told Sky Sports after helping Luton to second spot and landing himself the Player of the Month award for October: “When I signed, I came to a Conference club but I fully expected us to win promotion, which obviously we did.
“I also had a lot of faith in my own ability that once we started climbing the leagues and playing games higher up the ladder, I would be able to show what I was about. Fortunately, it has turned out well.
“When I was at Hull, I had a few loans in Leagues One and Two and it didn’t really work out as well as I would have planned. I thought it would be best for me to go somewhere I would be in and around the first team and playing games and being successful. It’s paid off for me at the moment, but there is a long way to go.”
Luton’s early success has come as no surprise to Cullen, with there always a belief within their ranks that back-to-back promotions were a distinct possibility.
He added: “I wouldn’t say we’ve exceeded expectations. As a group of players, we fully expected to be up the top end of the table, pushing for promotion again. We got off to quite a slow start, but then we hit a good run and we can really kick on now.
“We won a lot of games last season and we’ve carried that form into the start of this season. Winning is a habit and when you’re used to that, it’s hard to not do it anymore. All of the lads work hard in order to get results, and we’ve been getting them of late.
I also had a lot of faith in my own ability that once we started climbing the leagues and playing games higher up the ladder, I would be able to show what I was about. Fortunately, it has turned out well.
“We’re confident. It’s going to be December soon and we’re in and around it, which is where we wanted to be. But it only matters where you are come May, so hopefully we’re still up there and we’ll be working very hard to achieve that.”
Cullen has seen his efforts in October recognised after netting five goals in as many games – including a hat-trick against Dagenham & Redbridge - but he is quick to point out that he would not have been in the mix were it not for his team-mates.
He said: “Every striker, you get judged on your goals. To get goals at the start of the season, it gives you confidence.
“I need lads to give me the ball and I’ll put it in the net. I’m not the type of player who is going to beat three or four men and put one in the top corner, so I need the crosses and through-balls to get my chances. I have to thank the other lads for setting me up.”
Mark Cullen was talking to Sky Sports on behalf of Sky Bet, the Title Sponsor of The Football League.
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