Dale ace facing fight for a shirt
KEITH Hill believes it will be a ‘big challenge’ for Matthew Lund to reclaim his starting place in the Rochdale midfield.
The Northern Irishman has made a return to the training field following a shoulder injury picked up against Chesterfield in the second league game of the season. Since then, competition for a starting spot in Dale’s midfield has been fierce with top performances from the likes of Jamie Allen, Bastien Hery and Stephen Dawson.
While Hill admits that the return of Lund will be similar to a new signing, the Dale boss insists that the 23- yearold will have to earn his place in order to get back into the side.
“It will be like recruiting another central midfield player,” said Hill.
“From my perspective, I can’t wait to get him back fit and training and be part of the squad again – if he can actually get back into the squad.
‘This is big, big challenge for Matty. Will he get in our squad now? That’s up to him’
“This is a big, big challenge for Matty Lund. He was probably one of the stand-out midfield players last season in League Two.
“Will he get in our squad now? That’s up to him. And it’s up to the players that are carrying the shirts at this moment in time.
“He’s very close behind them. He’s back on the training pitch and he’s looking more like a player again, even though it’s not contact.
“He’s an unbelievable player but we have to make sure he is 100 per cent ready and fit and available to make an impact when the time is right.”