Rovers Player caught up with defender Jordan Binns this week after he signed his first professional deal at the club.
First of all Jordan, congratulations on your first professional contract, how does it feel to have signed?
“It’s good. It’s what I’ve been dreaming about for years so I’m delighted to get the opportunity. I’ve now got to work hard to make it.”
How much confidence does it give you when you know the club are willing to give professional contracts to youth team players and also give them a chance to excel like James Husband has?
“A few years before there weren’t many given out but obviously the past two years they’ve given quite a few so it’s good and obviously builds the confidence of the young lads.
“When you see players like James do well it shows the club are willing to give young lads a chance to try and impress at the stage you want to be in.”
For fans who haven’t seen you play, what sort of player are you? What can you bring to the team?
“I’m a centre half and I can read the game well. I like to organise the defence well and try and help to break up play.”
This is your first pre-season as a professional, how has it been different to past years with the youth team?
“It’s a lot tougher. There’s a lot of running, especially in this heat, it’s tough. The last few seasons we’ve been away so we’ve not done as much as this year but it’s been good”
You played in the opening pre-season game at Frickley, your first game as a full first team squad member, how was that?
“It was a good experience and shows the manager is willing to give us a chance, no disrespect to Frickley but to learn against a team like that was a good start. I thought I did well in the game too.
It was great to play alongside the first teamers too. They help us out big time in training so it was good to get to play in a match alongside them”
How do you see your progression this season? Has the manager given you any indication of your role in the squad?
“I think it will be more towards the development squad this season. He [Dickov] has sat down with us and told us he would give us a chance if he thinks we’re ready and he showed at his previous club Oldham that he gives young people a chance”
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