Rotherham United loanee Dan Gore. Picture: Jim Brailsfordplaceholder image
Rotherham United loanee Dan Gore. Picture: Jim Brailsford
DAN Gore had a clutch of clubs from a higher division chasing his services before the Premier League youngster decided to see out his loan with Rotherham United.
The midfielder will be at AESSEAL New York Stadium for the rest of the season because the cut-off point for parent side Manchester United to recall him and send him to another team has been and gone.
Gore opted to stay because he has loved his time in South Yorkshire during which he has emerged as one of the top talents in League One.
Millers manager Matt Hamshaw became aware of the suitors elsewhere during this month's transfer window for the simple reason that they were contacting him directly to ask about the 21-year-old's quality.
“I know that there were a number of championship clubs that were interested in Dan, because they spoke to me about him,” he said. “And it's hard not to give him a glowing reference because there are so many things I like about him.”
Gore has played 29 times since his summer arrival and, after missing the last two third-tier matches with a groin issue, is expected to add to his tally shortly.
Another young loanee who has rejected advances from elsewhere to remain under Hamshaw's guidance is centre-half Jamal Baptiste.
The recall date for the Sheffield United 22-year-old has also passed and he will be a Rotherham player until the close of the 2025/26 campaign.
He, too, has become a key man at New York, making 20 appearances and being arguably the Millers' top performer in the last few weeks. Keeping the duo is a huge boost in the battle against relegation following a run of seven straight third-tier defeats.
“It's really good news for us,” Hamshaw said. “Jamal's been excellent. Him and Dan are like breaths of fresh air around the place. They've brought a positivity, a drive, a youthfulness, a desire to want to do well.
“Both had a lot of interest in this window and it would have been well easy for them to have gone somewhere else. The fact that they want to stay here, want to fight for the badge, want to get us out of this trouble that we're in speaks volumes about them as characters.
“I have no doubt that they're going to go on to hugely successful things in their careers.”
Both parent clubs were happy for their players to stay where they were.
Rotherham had been pushing towards the play-off places before their form dipped at the beginning of December and the continued presence of Gore and Baptiste gives rise to optimism that they can escape the drop zone.
“We've given them both opportunities and they want to repay that, which is credit to them as players,” said Hamshaw. “They also want to progress their careers. Look, if they felt like they couldn't progress here, they wouldn't have stayed.”
Saturday's New York clash with AFC Wimbledon may, possibly, come too soon for Gore. However, there should be no question marks surrounding his involvement in next Tuesday's home encounter with Northampton Town.
“Dan's in and around it again,” Hamshaw confirmed.
Continue Reading