Bunney back and wiser for moving
KEITH Hill feels the returning Joe Bunney is back at Dale a wiser player than when he left 12 months ago.
The striker turned left-back joined on loan until the end of the season from Northampton last week and Dale chief Hill said: “Joe knows the way that we want to play the game and he knows that he has got a bright future in the game.
“He has got to grasp what I’ve been preaching to him since I first embarked on our journey together when we recruited him from Northwich Victoria as a striker who was then converted to a wing-back/ left-back/ attacking full-back.
“It was important/ is important that players leave the stable environment that they have been brought up in so that they can go and see if there is difference with how the real football world acts.
“I think he has learned some valuable lessons and it’s good to have him back because there is a real appetite there and a desire.
“The one thing Joe doesn’t want is to have been relegated with Northampton and then to get relegated with Rochdale.”
Rekeil Pyke, who joined the club on loan from Huddersfield Town, also has that hunger.
“He’s hungry, he’s young and he’s got good experience under his belt from Wrexham,” said Hill.
“We’ve been watching him for most of the season, having been made aware of him during the close season, and the timing was right. He’s wants to impress and someone who wants to climb the footballing ladder, so there’s desire there and there’s definitely ability and mobility, as well. We’re pleased to have acquired him and we’re pleased that he is going to be part of the fight. All the players who have come in realise the situation that we are in, and they’ve agreed to help and fight and perform.