Joel Grant: Exeter good enough for promotion

Exeter City winger Joel Grant says the squad are capable of challenging for promotion from League Two.

The Grecians are currently 11th after picking up 18 points from their opening 12 matches, including a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Stevenage last time out in which the visitors scored an injury-time equaliser.

But despite failing to find consistency with a quarter of the season having been played, Grant says he’s seen enough to convince him that the club will be challenging come the end of the season.

“I have said it would be a massive disappointment if we wasn’t challenging, whether that was automatic or through the play offs,” said the former Yeovil man.

“Having joined late, I had a chance to watch a few games and was impressed by what I saw.”

Grant has played in six league matches so far, scoring twice as well as claiming a few assists.

And with his performances impressing many at St James Park, the ex-Watford player admits his start has helped him settle quickly.

“So far it’s been brilliant,” he revealed.

“I couldn’t have hoped for any better. It’s always nice to score sooner rather than later at a new club.

“I’m back up and running now and it’s nice to be playing regularly.”

Grant is City’s 1931 fan funded player; a scheme set up by supporters which has seen them contribute towards one signing in each of the last seven years.

And the attacker says he’s honoured to have been chosen by the club’s supporters, even though he didn’t initially know what it was about.

“Originally when I came I didn’t know too much about it to be honest,” he admitted.

“In choosing a shirt number I was told to wear number 31, and the reasons were explained to me.

“Once I heard them it felt like that it’s such a great honour to wear the shirt and if I can do well, even better.

Following the draw with Stevenage, Grant is jetting off to join up with Jamaica for their friendly in South Korea on Tuesday.

And with the squad having scraped through to the 2018 World Cup qualifying group stage after a last-gasp 4-3 aggregate win over Nicaragua, the Exeter wide man says the national team are in good shape ahead of their quest to reach the finals for the first time since 1998.

“As a team we’ve been very good and are confident about reaching the World Cup,” he said.

“We’ve done really well to get through the last qualifier and we’re looking forward to the up and coming ones.”