Keith Hill says Dale’s newest recruit, Ryan McLaughlin, is an excellent player and that he is really pleased with his acquisition.
The 24-year-old joined Dale from Blackpool on a permanent deal on Wednesday, and Hill wants him to show what a good player he is.
“I’m really pleased with Ryan coming to the Football Club and I think it’s good business,” said Hill.
“He’s an excellent player. He’s got great pace. He’s got the key attributes that we need and now we’ve got to build him.
“He’s got to have sustainability and have that hunger and desire to, week in, week out, get out on that football pitch and show what a good player he is.
“He’s got to do what we ask of every player that comes to this Football Club. You’re not a League One player, you shouldn’t be a League One player – we want you to be a Championship player.
“We want you to help the Club ultimately survive in League One, and try and strive for Championship status.
“We want to win matches, but we want you to be individually switched on and really have a desire to be a Championship player. If they do, they get their opportunity, either with us or through us. It’s no different for Ryan.”
Hill acted quickly to bring in the Northern Irishman following Joe Rafferty’s departure to Championship side Preston North End.
“We had to [act quickly]. We were working on it the previous evening. When I phoned Terry McDermott up, Ryan was on his way to St Mirren, and I must apologise to St Mirren’s Manager [Oran Kearney], and them as a Football Club, but it’s football business.
“He’s a player that we were looking at for the summer coming up as a possible recruit. But we’ve hurried it up and he’ll come into the squad for the weekend.”