The Youth Team’s Dimi Tuanzebe is raring to go after spending the last six months on the side lines due to injury.
The 17-year-old was forced to sit out for a large part of last season after fracturing his metatarsal, but after a lengthy rehab process, he’s fit and ready for the new season.
Dimi, who is a second year scholar, got 20 minutes under his belt in the pre-season friendly against York City, and he says it is good to be back.
“I got on for the last 20 minutes and my foot was fine, I felt alright and I felt like I did OK for my first game back, so I’m happy with my progress," Dimi told www.rochdaleafc.co.uk.
“Watching from the side lines for such a long time was hard, especially when they played Wigan at Spotland in the final of the Lancashire Youth Cup last season because I was desperate to play, so it is good to be where I am now.”
He continued: “For the first four months I was doing mostly gym work and I’ve got [physio] Gary Thompson to thank because he told me what I had to do to come back fit and ready. Because of the situation I’ve been in I have had to work even harder and I’ve started doing extra work on and off the field. I feel stronger and fitter, and I’m ready for the season ahead.”