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You know you are getting a reputation in the game when James Corden sends you a good luck tweet on your arrival at Bolton – but Josh Cullen isn’t expecting an invite to do Carpool Karaoke just yet.
The West Ham-mad Late Late Show host wished Cullen and his Hammers team-mate Reece Burke well on their arrival at the Macron, adding a touch of stardust to Wanderers’ highest-profile summer arrivals so far.
“Go have fun, enjoy it, learn and then come back to the Irons!” said the Gavin and Stacey star, now a major hit in the US.
Cullen was happy to get a celebrity endorsement but pledged neither he nor his Hammers team-mate Burke would be worried about the big time during their time in the Championship.
“I don’t think I’m quite in that bracket yet,” laughed the midfielder. “But it’s nice to get support from any West Ham fan, whether he’s world famous or not.
“Being a West Ham fan myself and growing up at the club, it would mean everything to me to go back and be a part of the team.
“This is a step up from my time at Bradford in the last couple of seasons. You look through some of the clubs in the division and no disrespect to League One but it really is another level.
“I’m looking forward to coming up against players who are good enough to play in the Premier League week-in, week-out, and showing I can do that too.”
Much is expected of the home-grown talents in East London and Cullen intends to use his time in the North West wisely.
“It’s part of the process for a young player nowadays. You need regular football to prove yourself. My longer-term objective is to go back to West Ham but I know this is a massive season for Bolton, so while I am here I’ll be giving it everything I have got.
“I want to have a great loan spell here and then go back and say I have really improved as a player and push on.”
Cullen and Burke featured heavily in West Ham’s pre-season tour of Austria and Germany, leaving Phil Parkinson to wait patiently for Slaven Bilic to release them for duty, which should start at home to Leeds United tomorrow.
It meant neither player could play a part in the Whites’ own preparations but the 21-year-old insists he will be quickly up to speed.
“I got plenty of minutes under my belt and I’m feeling fit – it’s not like a new signing who’ll need a few weeks to catch up.”
Both Cullen and Burke worked under Parkinson and his backroom at Valley Parade in 2015/16 – but last season the pair took different paths.
Cullen stayed at Bradford and helped Stuart McCall’s side to the play-offs, twice proving a thorn in Bolton’s side, while Burke endured a difficult loan spell at Wigan, cut short by injury.
“I came through the academy with him and he’s a great friend,” Cullen said of his Hammers team-mate. “We played for a while together at Bradford as well so it does make it a bit easier, more off the pitch than on it.
“He’s a fantastic player. Sam Allardyce threw him into the team for four or five games in the Premier League and he showed exactly what he’s about.
“Reece is an all-round defender, good on the ball and can play it out from the back, but he’s not afraid of the dirty side of the game either.
“I think Bolton fans will like him.”
Cullen has also got another motive to be a success at Wanderers.
Already capped a handful of times by the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, he has designs on a senior cap.
Though Essex-born, Cullen qualifies for the Emerald Isle by virtue of his grandfather on his dad’s side.
“Don’t let the accent fool you, I’m be as proud as any Irishman to play for my country,” he said.
“It goes without saying that once you’ve played at Under-21 level you start looking towards the senior team and hoping you’ll get a chance.
“You should always want to push yourself to the highest level possible. I can only really make sure I represent Bolton Wanderers as best as I can and then hope that it falls for me.”
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The West Ham-mad Late Late Show host wished Cullen and his Hammers team-mate Reece Burke well on their arrival at the Macron, adding a touch of stardust to Wanderers’ highest-profile summer arrivals so far.
“Go have fun, enjoy it, learn and then come back to the Irons!” said the Gavin and Stacey star, now a major hit in the US.
Cullen was happy to get a celebrity endorsement but pledged neither he nor his Hammers team-mate Burke would be worried about the big time during their time in the Championship.
“I don’t think I’m quite in that bracket yet,” laughed the midfielder. “But it’s nice to get support from any West Ham fan, whether he’s world famous or not.
“Being a West Ham fan myself and growing up at the club, it would mean everything to me to go back and be a part of the team.
“This is a step up from my time at Bradford in the last couple of seasons. You look through some of the clubs in the division and no disrespect to League One but it really is another level.
“I’m looking forward to coming up against players who are good enough to play in the Premier League week-in, week-out, and showing I can do that too.”
Much is expected of the home-grown talents in East London and Cullen intends to use his time in the North West wisely.
“It’s part of the process for a young player nowadays. You need regular football to prove yourself. My longer-term objective is to go back to West Ham but I know this is a massive season for Bolton, so while I am here I’ll be giving it everything I have got.
“I want to have a great loan spell here and then go back and say I have really improved as a player and push on.”
Cullen and Burke featured heavily in West Ham’s pre-season tour of Austria and Germany, leaving Phil Parkinson to wait patiently for Slaven Bilic to release them for duty, which should start at home to Leeds United tomorrow.
It meant neither player could play a part in the Whites’ own preparations but the 21-year-old insists he will be quickly up to speed.
“I got plenty of minutes under my belt and I’m feeling fit – it’s not like a new signing who’ll need a few weeks to catch up.”
Both Cullen and Burke worked under Parkinson and his backroom at Valley Parade in 2015/16 – but last season the pair took different paths.
Cullen stayed at Bradford and helped Stuart McCall’s side to the play-offs, twice proving a thorn in Bolton’s side, while Burke endured a difficult loan spell at Wigan, cut short by injury.
“I came through the academy with him and he’s a great friend,” Cullen said of his Hammers team-mate. “We played for a while together at Bradford as well so it does make it a bit easier, more off the pitch than on it.
“He’s a fantastic player. Sam Allardyce threw him into the team for four or five games in the Premier League and he showed exactly what he’s about.
“Reece is an all-round defender, good on the ball and can play it out from the back, but he’s not afraid of the dirty side of the game either.
“I think Bolton fans will like him.”
Cullen has also got another motive to be a success at Wanderers.
Already capped a handful of times by the Republic of Ireland Under-21s, he has designs on a senior cap.
Though Essex-born, Cullen qualifies for the Emerald Isle by virtue of his grandfather on his dad’s side.
“Don’t let the accent fool you, I’m be as proud as any Irishman to play for my country,” he said.
“It goes without saying that once you’ve played at Under-21 level you start looking towards the senior team and hoping you’ll get a chance.
“You should always want to push yourself to the highest level possible. I can only really make sure I represent Bolton Wanderers as best as I can and then hope that it falls for me.”
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