Walsall defender David Okagbue reflects on challenging start to life in England
In 2020, Walsall defender David Okagbue had just fulfilled his lifelong prophecy.
The towering centre-back had just been poached by Stoke City and so he embarked on a transformational journey into the professional game.
Yet life was not easy to begin with. The Covid-19 pandemic had plunged football into darkness and Okagbue recalls the challenges he faced in his first few months away from his native Ireland.
"It was quite tough," Okagbue remembers. "I didn't go home for six months and I struggled with that.
"That took a lot out of me to be away from home, being in digs and not having my mum to look after me.
"I was just fortunate that I have a very supportive family. They were great and everyone was so excited for me to go over to England because they knew it was what I always wanted to them.
"They kept my spirits up during that time. I was facetiming my family every day and that really helped me get through it."
