After joining Leicester City in a big money deal in July, being appointed club captain within weeks and the almost instant comparisons to club legend Steve Walsh, Matt Mills is becoming accustomed to dealing with pressure and expectation.

Still only 25-years-old, the dominant centre-back has already played for eight clubs, including a period in the Premier League with Manchester City and successful spells with Doncaster Rovers and Reading.

Linked with a return to the top flight throughout the summer, Mills took the decision to join Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Leicester City revolution for the next step of his career. It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Mills or the Foxes in the opening weeks of the season, but there are signs that the determined defender and his new team-mates are finding their feet and improving with every game.

Soar Magazine caught up with Mills to discuss his career to date, what brought him to King Power Stadium and dealing with theweight of anticipation surrounding the club…

Firstly Matt, how are you settling into life at Leicester?
It’s always difficult when you move because you are moving out of a comfort zone and an area and a team that you’re used to, but that’s the challenge that I wanted. I feel the longer I’m here, the more I’m bedding in.

We’re learning how the manager wants us to play and we’re learning each other’s game and that always takes time. I think the performances have certainly been improving and that’s encouraging, but it’s still early days.

What was the thinking behind signing for Leicester? Was it true that some Premier League clubs were interest?
There were offers from the Premier League but I felt that with what the club are trying to do – the owners’ ambitions, the facilities and the fan base – this is the perfect step for the next part of my career. The manager was obviously a big influence because, first and foremost, you’ve got to feel wanted and that was certainly the vibe I was getting from the manager and the club as a whole.

Was it hard to leave Reading?
It was a tough decision. I had a fantastic time at Reading. I’ve taken a lot of flack from the Reading fans but, at the end of the day, I had to do what was right for me and my future. My little brother has just signed there and I was delighted because he’s at a club where he will progress. They’ve got everything in place there to develop and get the best out of players.

It must’ve been a big boost to have been given the Leicester City captaincy, but does it bring extra pressure?
The manager has given me the armband, but on a matchday everybody performs to the best that they can. Armband or no armband, I will always give my best. Sometimes, some people won’t be happy with that but all you can do is your best and be true to yourself. That’s the way I am and that’s the way I play.

You have to play your own game and not try too hard at times. My first home league game against Reading was a classic example of that. When it’s against your old club you sometimes feel that you need to do more or try harder and that can actually hamper you. After being dropped for the Bristol City game I made a conscious decision to play my way and play my game.

There are obviously huge expectations on the players this season, how do you deal with that?
It’s been a strange one really. The expectation is understandable because we’ve spent money in the transfer window but I can’t understand or legislate for people not supporting the team. We need to be a unit on and off the pitch.

I understand, I’ve been a fan and been frustrated watching England and things like that, but you’ve got to look at the bigger picture. We’re not in a knockout tournament, we are in a 46 game league season and there’s a long way to go. At Reading last season we were twelfth at Christmas and ended up finishing fifth and could’ve easily gone up, so there is a lot of football to be played.

The back five is made up of five players that haven’t played together before. I imagine it will take time to build an understanding?
I feel like we’re getting stronger as a back five by the week, not only in games but in training. I feel the manager is getting across the way in which he wants to play. We’re learning about each other and learning a style of football, and I feel that’s getting better every day.

You started your career at Southampton before a big move to Manchester City, what did you learn from your time in Manchester?
It was a great experience. For a 19-year-old lad to move so far away from his family and friends and to be thrust into a Premier League squad is daunting, but it’s an experience I’ve learnt from. I’m a better player and a better person and it was fantastic to make my Premier League debut and be involved in a lot of games at a big club. The club was at a crossroads of whether it was going to stick with the squad and I was going to get my chance, or they were going to get bought out and the money would come in. Obviously the latter has happened and I moved on.

Which coaches have had the biggest influence on your career so far?
The grounding I had at Southampton under Andy Ritchie and a French coach called George Prost was invaluable. I’d say Sean O’Driscoll at Doncaster was a key figure in my development, giving me games at 18 at Bournemouth and then taking me to Doncaster and really making me a focal point of a team that got promoted, that was a great time. Brian McDermott at Reading is an absolutely fantastic manager and a fantastic person and someone who I’m sure I will stay very close to and will do very well.

You were born in Leicester before moving away, what have you made of the city as a place to live?
I’ve moved to the area but my family aren’t here any more and whenever you move to a new area and you don’t know people, it’s difficult. The amount of games that we’ve had at the start of the season has been fantastic for me. Not only because I’m playing, but it’s kept me busy. There’s always that bedding in period and I feel like I’m coming to the end of that.

Finally Matt, what are your main ambitions in the game?
I set my goals four or five years ago and I know I’m on course and I’ve been ticking the boxes. I’ve learnt in the past not to voice my ambitions and I like to keep that in-house, but I’m very driven and I know where I want to go.

A man prepared to walk the walk rather than talk the talk, whose measured and mature demeanour off the pitch is in contrast with his all-action and passionate displays on it, Matt Mills is sure to be crucial to Leicester City’s hopes of reaching the Premier League.