The former Leeds United man has swapped Rangers for Sheffield United.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has put some of the blame for his new recruit from Rangers’ red card on debut down to a lack of Ibrox action.
Joe Rothwell lasted less than a year at Premiership level after helping Leeds United out of the Championship in England last year, on loan from Bournemouth. He has now returned to second tier level with the Blades but his Sheffield United debut went awry against Middlesbrough as he was sent off for a thunderous challenge off the bench.
Wilder addressed the dismissal in his pre-match presser ahead of this weekend’s win over Portsmouth and says Rothwell was keen to get the crowd going, but it ended badly. The midfielder was signed by Russell Martin but new head coach Danny Rohl’s arrival limited minutes, and that lack of action is what Wilder thinks was part of the reason for marching orders.
Read More
Why did Joe Rothwell get sent off on Sheffield United debut?
He said: "I think we all, every United fan - certainly me and the coaches and the players speaking to them - believed that little swinging momentum when we got ourselves back into the game would take us to at least get a draw out of it. But, obviously, Joe can't get away from it and I've talked to him about it.
“Where was your head at? He said: 'I just wanted to make a big tackle to lift the crowd'. Unfortunately, his timing was off and I think that might be because of not playing a lot of football as well. He's disappointed. He was sat in the changing room with his head in his hands, really. He understands that situation. He committed to a tackle and didn't get it right.
"But, even at the end, Japhet Tanganga had a header. Another day, it could have gone in and if we all walk out that ground with a two each, it's a good feeling. But, I'm not going to beat the boys up too much about it and we go again on Saturday."
Joe Rothwell on leaving Rangers for Sheffield United
Speaking on his move to Sheffield United earlier this month, the former Rangers star said: “It was something, obviously, that I pushed for. I am thankful to the club that they wanted to do it and I am just really excited now to get out there and push this club back to where they want to be.
“I have obviously played against them quite a few times and played the manager’s teams quite a few times, so I would like to think I know what they are all about. Speaking with the manager he has told me how he sees things and how he wants to do things, and it was very aligned to how I want to do things as well. It was a massive attraction towards this club and, as I have said, I am really excited to get going now.
“I would like to think I know a thing or two about playing in this league and getting out of it. That is something that I hope to bring here; a bit of experience and knowhow of how to get games done and things like that. The main thing for me now is just getting back to playing and enjoying my football again.”
Continue Reading