… and this time he wants a medal!
High-flying on-loan Leyton Orient midfielder Idris El Mizouni already has a promotion on his CV – but never got the medal to prove it!
El Mizouni spent the first half of 2020-21 at Cambridge United, making 11 appearances having been borrowed from parent club Ipswich, before departing midway through the campaign in January.
The U's went on to claim League Two's runners-up spot but despite the 22-year-old Tunisian international having been named 16 times in the matchday squad that season – comfortably above the EFL's 25 per cent fixture threshold for a medal – his contribution went unrewarded.
Friendship
He now hopes to put that right this season and even go one better playing for an O's team who have been early pacesetters during the first two months of the campaign.
Paris-born El Mizouni also admitted that, while Richie Wellens' possession-based game contrasts with that employed by Mark Bonner to bring success at Cambridge, both teams do share certain traits essential for any outfit looking to finish top of the pile in May.
He said: “I didn't get a medal with Cambridge because I left in January and joined Grimsby. I then got injured and went back to Paris so I wasn't around, but I would love to get a medal this season – and perhaps a trophy as well, although I know it's very early days.
“At Cambridge, it was a different style of play to what we are playing now, but the thing both teams have in common is the friendship of the group.
“Nobody is moaning about not liking somebody or talking behind people's backs and, when you have that, people fight for each other on the pitch.
“Even on the bench, they are trying to help you rather than
hoping you play badly so they get a chance.”
El Mizouni also reckons he could not have two better role models to learn about the finer points of midfield play than his current manager and captain.
Boss Wellens made just under 700 professional appearances – including more than a third at Championship level – while 37-year-old skipper Darren Pratley has previously played topflight football for Fulham and Bolton and, prior to this weekend, in his 20th season as a pro, had started every O's league game – with El Mizouni alongside him in the engine room for all but two.
He said: “Prats gives me so much guidance and always communicates with me on and off the pitch. “He's a great guy to work with and always there to help young people. He's also still running, playing every game and is very fit at 37.
“The gaffer is always doing analysis with us too and he loves teaching centre mid because he was a centre mid and a good one as well.”
Formula
El Mizouni, who has played 26 times for Ipswich having made his debut at the age of 18 in the Championship, also believes the Tractor Boys have finally found the right formula following three underwhelming League One seasons.
Like Orient, the Suffolk side were sat second going into yesterday's programme of games and, on the prospect of a double celebration in seven months' time, the classy playmaker, who is under contract at Ipswich until 2024, said: “If both teams could get promoted that would be a bonus.
“The team at Ipswich is now very well coached by a very good manager, who makes the side play the way everyone wants them to play and different to the way before. The fans are happy with that and there are some very good players for the level with a lot having played in the Championship.”
