Thumbs up for latest recruits

WHEN Joe Dodoo signed a shortterm deal with Burton Albion last week, he became the fifth player signed as a free agent outside the transfer window.

Injuries and the need to freshen up the squad after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s departure as manager made working in that market essential for new boss Dino Maamria – and he has been pleased with the results.

He admits that some of the five may be worth keeping beyond January but there are a number of factors to be considered before that happens, not least how much flexibility to trade he has when the transfer window opens.

And it is a two-way street – the players themselves may wish to move on.

“The short-term players we’ve signed have all done well,” said Maamria.

“They have given us the impact that we needed.

“We would like to keep some of them but they might not want to stay, it’s not all one way.

“If they’re doing well, someone else might take them in a higher division or offer more money or whatever, so I’m not thinking about it too much yet.

“I’m just trying to maximise their potential and get the best out of them so that they get the most out of the deal and so do we.

“If they do brilliantly and we can’t keep them, good luck to them, they will have helped us pick up points.

“So we’ll review it all in January but I have to say all those lads are enjoying their time here, they are loving what they’re doing and they’re 100% committed to what we’re trying to do, which is a big one for me.”

When Dodoo signed, it came as a surprise in that it had been widely rumoured the Brewers were on the verge of signing former Coventry City forward Maxime Biamou.

Maamria confirmed that Biamou had also been training with the club.

“Max Biamou trained with us for a while but we felt that Joe Dodoo fits better into what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“I don’t want to end up signing too many players, I want them to come in and be able to affect our starting 11.

“Up front now we have Victor Adeboyejo, Sam Winnall, Joe Dodoo and Bobby Kamwa, so I don’t feel I need to add another forward to sit on the bench.”