LUTON loanee John McAtee is hoping to go far in this year’s FA Cup following a good run with Grimsby last season.
The 24-year-old forward made it to the quarter finals of the famous cup competition last season with the Mariners, beating then Premier League side Southampton before falling short in the sixth round against Brighton.
His brace on Tuesday night, including a superb chip, ensured the Reds will travel to Sutton United in the second round of the cup next month.
He said: “What we said beforehand was to take the sting out of the game early doors, and if that means reverting to going a bit longer then we’ll do that.
“Thankfully it paid off and we got a couple of goals.
“We just treated the game like any other game, put the mistakes from the last game behind us and looked to put a positive performance in - and in the first half we did that.
“I enjoyed it last season, we got to play in some good stadiums against some good teams, and hopefully this year we can do the same.”
He said he knows he’s got the quality to score goals like his second.
“For the chip, it feels like I’ve got that in my locker, it was more about being calm in front of goal and thankfully tonight I put both my chances away.
“Hopefully I can build on it.”
McAtee was on the bench in Luton’s first ever Premier League game against Brighton at the start of the season - and he said he felt unlucky not to get onto the pitch.
“I played Brighton last season so I kind of had a little taster there,” he said.
“But it’s different in the Premier League, it’s what you all dream of.
“I was gutted not to get on but I understand it was the first game back up there.
“But it makes you hungrier, not only for yourself but for Barnsley too.”
He’s still got aims to play at the top level - and he’s even taking tips from his younger brother James McAtee who is currently at Sheffield United.
“If you don’t have targets then you’ll never hit them.
“So I’ve come here firstly on a personal basis to get a lot of good performances, get minutes and get goals and assists.
“Coming here and buying into what the lads are trying to do, and get promotion this season.
“I’d be lying if I said we (him and his brother) speak about football a lot, because we don’t.
“When we see each other it’s more off-pitch stuff, because our whole lives are football.
“It’s nice to wind down sometimes.
“We do speak to each other about different things, and experiences - even though he’s younger than me he’s had Premier League experience.
“I do try and get little tips.”
