Humphrys and Wiseman had been on the

KEITH Hill managed to land two transfer deadline day signings last week who, if he’d had his way, would have been with the club since last summer.

The Dale chief successfully brought in striker Stephen Humphrys from Fulham and Scott Wiseman from Chesterfield, both on loan until the end of the season, with Wiseman starting against Northampton at the weekend and Humphrys coming on as a late replacement for Callum Camps.

“We tried to get Stephen in during the summer, but for whatever reason, we couldn’t quite complete the deal then but we’ve kept out eye on the situation,” said Hill.

“He’s had a recent injury which meant we couldn’t get him in at the beginning of the month, but with respect to his progress on the training pitch and his fitness, he’s where he needs to be and he needs games now.

“I’m looking for him to add goals to the side and be a threat to central defenders.

“You want centre forwards having a presence against central defenders and that’s what we expect.

“We’re expecting him to be strong in both boxes, and he has to be the first line of defence.

“He knows that he has to work hard.”

Hill said Wiseman’s return to Rochdale made sense in light of Wigan boss Paul Cook’s late recall of Donervon Daniels.

“I was surprised at the lateness of Donvervon’s recall,” admitted Hill.

“Paul Cook phoned me at the beginning of the month, just prior to us playing Doncaster in the FA Cup to say that he’d probably be recalling him that week, but that didn’t transpire, so I thought I was home and dry until I received a phone call on Wednesday morning