Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United boss Paul Warne believes new recruit Kyle Vassell can bring a unique threat to his attacking options, speaking after securing the signature of the former Blackpool frontman on a three-year deal.
The Millers manager made it two signings within an hour as Vassell joined fellow Seasiders teammate Robertson in making the switch from the Fylde coast to South Yorkshire, with Warne left delighted at the capture of a player he believes will offer his attack another dimension this season.
“I think he's still learning and we'll try and help him but he's got two rocket feet and he can score with either. He's aggressive and strong and he adds a little bit of a different dimension to our attack,” Warne explained.
“He might be a real good curve ball for us as an option up front.
“I think he'll excite the crowd and I think he's one of those who, if he gets the ball at his feet at 30 yards, they'll stand up and cheer him on and hope something amazing can happen.
“Our attacking force is pretty strong anyway with Smudge, Procs, Bally and Jerry but I just think he brings something that we haven't got. He's a bit more of a maverick I think and last year he scored and if you go on Youtube you can watch them and see for yourself."
Warne continued to add that like Robertson, the Millers have been keeping tabs on Vassell for a number of months, and character references from Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer in addition to a number of viewings from first team staff and scouts were the deciding factors in the Millers moving quickest to secure the out of contract forward.
“We've had an eye on him for the last 12 months really,” he continued.
“He was out of contract so I knew it was going to be difficult to get him in because out of contract strikers are pretty unique. Obviously Blackpool would have loved to have kept him but he let his contract run out.
“I spoke to his manager when I was on holiday and he spoke really highly of him. I met him and his agent and I spoke to him for nearly two hours, which probably felt like a day to him and I told him how I thought we could help him. He knew the challenge and he's keen to come in.”
Like his new manager, Vassell has had to work hard for his shot at the English Football League, having spent time with a number of clubs in the non-league and Warne admits that desire to achieve is something that has not been lost on him.
“He wants to play Championship football and play as high as he can,” he added.
“He started non-league which I like because these are lads that know they have to fight and scrap for everything they've got and that's the way he plays.
“He's 25 and he's at a perfect age now. The next three years, if he stays injury-free, should be his most productive years as a striker.
“He scored a lot of goals and he had a couple of injury worries last year but we'll get him in really great shape in the summer to get the best out of him this year. I think going forward he'll be a great signing for us and he'll definitely add something.”