Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Millers boss Paul Warne says he was delighted to capture defender Joe Mattock’s signature and extend his deal with the club for a further two years and insists his early decision to pledge his future to the club is the type of commitment he is looking for ahead of 2017/18.
The 27-year-old left back agreed a new deal that will see him remain at AESSEAL New York Stadium until the summer of 2019 and Warne admitted he was pleased to get the deal over the line well in advance of the new campaign.
“He's a great lad and he works really hard in training,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“He's still at a good age and he's the type of person I want to keep at the club and he wants to stay.
“He could potentially have dragged his decision out through the summer looking at this and that but he's happy to play for us and I'm buzzing to see him sign.
“I thought there would be a few chasing his signature, but the fact that he's agreed to stay and agreed to stay so early, shows his commitment.”
The Rotherham United manager explained that he had sat down with the former Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City man and explained his plans for the future and he was thrilled with the response from a player he believes can perform in League One and above.
“When I spoke to him I was honest with him and told him what the script was and I don't think there was any other illusion other than that he wanted to stay, and I want people who want to be here,” Warne continued.
“If we go back up, I'm more than confident he can play in the Championship.
“I think he had a really good end to the season and in all the games that I've been in charge of especially, he's never let anyone down.
“I wouldn't suspect that there will be many left backs going into the season better than Joe or Ben [Purrington] in League One. So in that respect, I'm really glad to keep him on board.”
At 27, Mattock surprisingly finds himself as one of the elder statesmen of a young squad at AESSEAL New York Stadium and his manager is keen to utilise his experience to help his side moving forward, but admits there is still plenty to come from the versatile operator.
“He's athletic and still young enough to improve a little bit more, so if we can get that out of him in the subsequent couple of seasons then we've got ourselves a right player,” Warne added.
“He can also play left-sided centre half and I think he's had one season in League One when he went down with Leicester and they bounced back up, so he's an experienced campaigner and somebody I want at the club.
“He's good in the dressing room, the lads like him and he's a good pro. He can play in a couple of positions and at left midfield or as a sitting midfielder if I needed him to.”