New signing Kasey Palmer is relishing the opportunity to play regular football again after signing on loan from Hull City – and also to get back to living at home.
The 29-year-old has spent the past 18 months with the Tigers, spending most of the week away from his young family, who remained at their home in Buckinghamshire from his time with Coventry City.
Kasey had his family with him at The Brache as he completed his move, and he told LTFC+: “It’s a huge thing, living so far away and not seeing my kids and family, it’s been difficult.
“My kids are here now and they never really got to come to Hull as much I wanted them to because of school, or football and stuff like that.
“But being at home I’ll be doing the school run in the morning, and then driving into training, so it’ll be back to normal and it’ll be like when I was at Coventry.
“It’s going to definitely help, being familiar. Everything is going to be a bit more normality than it was when I was at Hull, where I was kind of by myself, and you miss out on big moments, like when your boy is at football and I couldn’t take him training, and stuff like that. So I can’t wait.”
Kasey has made over 250 appearances for Championship clubs including Huddersfield, Bristol City, Derby, Blackburn, Swansea and Coventry, for whom he appeared in the Championship play-off final against the Hatters in 2022/23.
“Let’s not talk about that!” he smiles. “Obviously, that day was a good day, but at the same time it didn’t end how I wanted it to as a Coventry player at the time. But yes, I did play in that game, but let’s not talk about it!”
Looking forward, as a midfielder, the chance to play under manager Jack Wilshere was also a big draw for the former England youth and full Jamaica international.
“I’ve grown up watching him,” said Kasey. “I’m not an Arsenal fan but I’ve seen him play for England, and I’m sure he’s got a lot of things I can learn off, and a lot of advice he can give from his playing career and now onto coaching, so I’m buzzing to be here and working under him.
“You never stop learning, you can always learn especially when it’s from someone who’s been there and done it, and had the career that he’s had. I think there’s a lot that I can take on board from Jack and the rest of the coaching staff.”
On what Jack will ask of him, he goes on: “I think he’s going to expect quite a lot, which is normal. That’s what managers want from players that they sign at this time of the season, so it’s for me to put my stamp on the team early and try and impress from day one and get the team up the table as much as we can.”
That starts with a four-hour trip to Plymouth on Saturday and the same again to Huddersfield on Tuesday, but the south Londoner is already looking forward stepping out at Kenilworth Road for the first time as a Hatter on Saturday week against Blackpool.
“I’ve played at Kenilworth Road a few times, and it’s always a feisty atmosphere coming as an away player, so hopefully I’m on the right side of it this time and it’s an enjoyable occasion,” he said.
“I can’t wait just to be playing football again, knowing that I can express myself and feel free. I can’t wait for Saturday to come.”
