Joel Ekstrand talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Swedish international defender Joel Ekstrand insists he is hoping to grasp his opportunity at new club Rotherham United with both hands after putting pen-to-paper on a deal until the end of the season.The former Udinese and Watford centre half signed terms at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Thursday after his exit from this weekend’s opponents Bristol City and is keen to get underway with Paul Warne’s side.
“I'm very happy and I'm looking forward to it and just want to do my best in every scenario,” Ekstrand told www.themillers.co.uk.
“I'm really pleased, really happy and just want to get started as soon as possible.
“I'm happy to be here and I won't look back and I just want to get going and help Rotherham now and help myself.”
Ekstrand continued to explain that there had been interest in his services throughout the January window, but it was the Millers who put in the legwork towards the latter stages of the month to get the deal over the line.
“I heard a little bit through January but it wasn't until the last couple of days that things really turned up and became aware of the interest from Rotherham and spoke to the manager,” he added.
“I'm looking to play and this is a good opportunity for me. I'm hoping to help the club in every single way and hopefully it will be a win-win situation and I'm just glad to get it done.”
The 27-year-old passed his medical on Thursday afternoon and will join up with his new teammates in training tomorrow, but believes there is no reason that the Millers cannot lift themselves out of the relegation zone between now and the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
“I really really believe if you get on a good road and start winning, anything can happen,” Ekstrand explained.
“It is down to taking one game at a time and get that first win and get going from there.
“It's tough and very hard, but if you get a winning streak in the Championship you can go on winning all the time and if you're losing it's hard to get out."