Ethan Ebanks-Landell sat down with iFollow on Monday afternoon, after he’d completed his first full training session with the squad, following his loan move to the club at the end of last week.
The defender completed a move to Dale from Premier League side Wolves on Friday.
“The boys, the Gaffer and all his staff have welcomed me, so it has been an easy adjustment so far,” said Ebanks-Landell.
“I’m still trying to get used to names. When you’re a centre-half, it’s vital that you’re talking all the time, so I’m having to keep on asking ‘what’s his name’, but once I get it, I’ll be sweet.
“I wanted to come here so I can get some games in. I’m 26-years-old so I don’t want to be playing U23s football. I was injured at the start of the season, so I couldn’t really go out on anywhere on loan. Now I’m here, I’m just happy to be involved in a first team environment with a good group of boys.
“The Gaffer has said that it's going to be a fight and that’s what I’m ready for - I’ll keep going right to the end. There’s a chance of staying up and we all think that we will [avoid relegation], that’s why I’m here. The Gaffer has expressed that to me, too, and that’s what we’ve got to believe.
“I’ve had two promotions and two relegations and I know which one I’d prefer, so I’d rather not have another relegation on my CV.”
With paperwork having been completed before the deadline on Friday, the defender went straight into the squad for Saturday’s game against Peterborough, and he made his Dale debut coming on as a second half substitute at the ABAX Stadium.
Rochdale lost the game 2-1, despite a spirited performance, and Ebanks-Landell agrees that there are positives to take forward.
“I feel like they had a lot of the ball and a lot of entries into our half, but chances wise we had the better of those and I thought we were quite solid. I think we definitely deserved a draw but when you’re down there you probably don’t get the rub of the green that you deserve.
“The Gaffer has said that it was a more positive performance and result that we can build on, and he has said that this week is going to be a hard training week to be ready for Saturday’s game.”
Ethan Hamilton scored for Keith Hill’s side at the weekend, opening his Dale account on his debut. Ebanks-Landell joked that he hoped he’d be acknowledge on the score-sheet rather than his namesake. And when he’s not trying to claim other players’ goals, can we expect him to chip in from time to time?
“I was hoping they’d put my name on it instead,” he laughed.
“But no, it was a great finish and he played really well for his full league debut.
“I’ve been known to score the odd goal, so I’d like to hope that I could get two or three and then I’d be pleased.”
Watch the full interview on iFollow.