Houghton relishing chance to show what he can do

MIDFIELDER NEWCOMER IS A CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE AGE OF 27

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle midfielder Jordan Houghton is relishing the chance to play at Championship level for the first time at the age of 27 after playing in League One and League Two previously in his career.

Houghton came through the youth ranks at Chelsea but did not break into the first team there and instead had four loan spells away from Stamford Bridge, including with the Pilgrims in 2016.

After leaving Chelsea in 2018, he signed for MK Dons and then switched to Argyle three years later. After picking up a League One title winners' medal with them last term, Houghton has put in a series of good performances at the higher level.

The midfielder has started seven of the eight games in the Championship and was a half-time substitute in the 4-1 defeat at Bristol City, when manager Steven Schumacher opted to rest a number of key players during a period of three fixtures in eight days.

Houghton said: "I'm really enjoying it. I think it has taken the best part of eight years of work for me to get to this stage, always wanting the chance to play at this level because I knew I could do it.

"Now I have got the opportunity and I think we are doing well and I'm doing well. Hopefully we can get some more positive results like last week (the 6-2 home rout of Norwich City) going throughout the season."

Houghton has taken the step up to the Championship in his stride. He said: "Maybe the style of the league has helped me a little bit. I don't really know to be honest, but it's obviously pleasing to have played so many minutes this early on (in the season).

"The aim for me is to carry on throughout the whole season, and we are coming up to a quarter of the way through, but the main thing is points on the board for us as a team."