Rowe on board after impressive three months
DANNY Rowe’s impressive threemonth spell in a Burton Albion shirt at the end of last season has earned him a full contract.
The former Ipswich Town winger was announced on a one-year deal by the club yesterday.
Getting that over the line will be a relief to the player and a real foundation for a new start after a difficult last few years.
“Danny came in last season and we had to get him up to speed but you could see his quality when he got on the pitch,” said manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
“He had a few niggles last season that stopped him getting a full run of games but we’re really pleased to secure him for this season.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him in pre-season and the benefit that will bring him and we think he’ll bring a lot to us.”
Rowe is looking forward to having a full pre-season and starting next season on the front foot.
“I’m absolutely delighted (to be staying),” he told the club website.
“It was a great end to last season. When I came in, everything was upbeat, there was a great atmosphere and I’m buzzing to stay on.
“As soon as the season finished I knew I wanted to stay, so I’m really happy now it’s sorted.”
Manchester-born Rowe began his career with Stockport County, moved on to Barrow and then had two spells with the now defunct Macclesfield Town before Ipswich bought him in January, 2017.
Between his spells with Macclesfield, he took some time out of the game but when he returned to ac tion with them, his form attracted Ipswich’s attention.
In the event, he only played 29 times for the Tractor Boys across three years, apparently not fitting in with Paul Lambert’s desire to play with wing-backs when he took over as manager from Mick Mccarthy. He had two loan spells with Lincoln City, scoring six goals in 33 appearances.
When he returned to Ipswich from the second of those, he got into their League One team but but a knee injury in December 2019 put him out for several months.
By the time he was fit, the season was ended early by the pandemic and Rowe found himself released, without a club and short of match fitness.
Hasselbaink offered him the chance to start again when he took him on board as a free agent in February, on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
“I’ve been out since the summer, so it’s great to be in regular training again and to be around the lads,” said Rowe when he arrived.
“The gaffer and Dino seem to have everyone looking really sharp and I feel that I’ve been bought into the club to add some extra creativity and to add to the quality that the squad has already got in it.”
Hasselbaink cautioned that Rowe would not be up and running instantly but, after two substitute appearances, he was brought on after only 38 minutes away to Charlton Athletic when Kieran Wallace suffered a cruciate ligament injury.
He was excellent in that game, effectively scoring the winner with a long-range shot, although it went down as an own goal officially.
Supporters were impressed by Rowe’s direct approach, running at players and looking to get crosses in.
It was widely felt that he had done enough to earn a longer deal and now that has been proved the case.
At 29, he is a little older than most of the signings but the sense that he has lost time to make up for is likely to drive him on.